"Tiger King" star Joe Exotic is seeking pardon from President Joe Biden after former president Donald Trump refused to grant him freedom during his last few hours in the White House. Emails obtained by TM reveal, Exotic, who has long supported Trump, has now had a change of heart.
In the correspondence, Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, reportedly said he has faith in the Biden administration and is confident the president can make a difference in criminal justice and prison reform. He further stated, Vice President Kamala Harris could "help clean up the corruption in the DOJ and other agencies."
According to TMZ, Exotic added he lost respect for Trump following the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Trump pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and rapper Lil Wayne, early Wednesday, as some of his final acts before exiting the White House. Exotic, who was sentenced to 22 years behind bars on charges of a murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin, plus various violations of acts regarding wild animals, did not make the list.
Exotic's team was so confident in a pardon, it had readied a celebratory limousine and a hair and wardrobe team for the reality TV star. Responding to the news Thursday, Exotic accused Trump of homophobia.
He tweeted:
"I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a pardon from Trump. I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to make a comment about me to boost his social media post. Boy, were we all stupid to believe he actually stood for equal justice? His corrupt friends all come first."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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