The Netflix star and notorious former zoo owner Joe Exotic, famous from Tiger King, is back with a bold new plea. Not only is he asking President-elect Donald Trump for a pardon, but he also wants a position in Trump’s cabinet—specifically, as head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The ‘Tiger King’ Not Only Asked Trump for a Pardon, He Also Asked For a Job
Joe, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, has been serving a 21-year sentence for various charges, including a murder-for-hire plot targeting his arch-nemesis, Carole Baskin, as well as several wildlife violations. Since his conviction in 2019, Exotic has been vocal about his innocence, and this week, he took to social media and wrote a lengthy letter to Trump explaining why he deserves a second chance.
In his letter to Trump, which was shared with RadarOnline, Exotic urged the President-elect to pardon him, citing his loyalty and how he, along with many others, supported Trump back in 2021.
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“A lot of people went to bat for you… who have been living in hell ever since then,” he wrote, referring to the hardship he says he and his supporters have faced since the last election. Exotic asked Trump to “pardon everyone sooner than later in January 2025,” adding that many are waiting with hope that Trump will make good on his campaign promises.
Exotic didn’t stop at just asking for a pardon. He also suggested that Trump consider him as the new Federal Fish and Wildlife Director, claiming he could bring “honesty” to a department that, in his words, has been riddled with corruption. Exotic specifically accused former director Dan Ashe of using his position for personal and organizational gain, alleging that Ashe leveraged his role to advance the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) by sidelining Exotic’s own zoo.
He also took issue with how the Endangered Species Act has been enforced, arguing that it’s being used to protect monopolies rather than animals. “Hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted within this department,” Exotic wrote, pointing out that the act should focus on protecting animals and their habitats, not creating monopolies that allow only certain people to profit.
Exotic’s letter comes just days after he announced his engagement to fellow inmate Jorge Marquez, marking Exotic’s third engagement from behind bars. He also took to social media, sharing posts in support of his plea for a pardon and asking his fans to get behind his campaign to “Free Joe Exotic.”
It’s worth noting that Exotic’s previous attempts to gain Trump’s support fell short. Despite renting a limousine to pick him up upon release in 2019, Exotic’s request for clemency never came through. However, he seems optimistic this time around. His legal team recently filed an appeal for a retrial, claiming they’ve discovered new evidence that could change his conviction.
The ball is now in Trump’s court—whether he will pardon Exotic and grant him a cabinet position remains to be seen. But knowing Joe Exotic, he’s going to keep campaigning until he’s out.
