White House Addresses Tiger King 's Joe Exotic Requesting Pardon
Originally appeared on E! Online
Joe Exotic will remain in prison until further notice.
The White House responded to the Tiger King docuseries subject's request to be pardoned by President Donald Trump over his conviction for the attempted murder-for-hire of his rival Carole Baskin, for which he is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence in Florida.
Addressing the inquiry, a White House official told E! News May 28, "We do not speculate on pardons that may or may not happen."
Prior to the executive branch's statement, Exotic—who was convicted of 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in 2020 but has long proclaimed his innocence—called out Trump for issuing full pardons for Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley over their 2022 tax fraud convictions before helping him out.
"I guess being innocent is not enough in America," the 62-year-old wrote in a message on X May 27 before noting that he's also been battling late-stage prostate cancer since being diagnosed in 2021. "They all admitted to perjury on world television but yet I'm left to die of cancer before I can get any help."
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He added, "Why is it the entire world can see the evidence but the White House refuses to acknowledge that they did this to me knowing that they were lying."
Following the message, many came out in support of Exotic being pardoned, with one user writing on X, "@realDonaldTrump free the Tiger King."
Another theorized that it would happen soon, saying, "I have a feeling your gonna be on the list of pardons just hang in there."
And while Exotic may be looking to get out of his prison sentence, which is currently scheduled to end in 2041, his time behind bars hasn't only been filled with negative experiences.
After all, last month, the former big cat owner announced that he tied the knot with a fellow prison inmate.
'Never been more proud of someone,' Exotic wrote on X April 21, alongside a photo of him and his partner in matching suits at the wedding. 'Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado.'
As for the Chrisleys, read on for all the details on their legal case.
Indicted on Tax Evasion and Other ChargesTodd and Julie Found GuiltySentenced to Multiple Years in PrisonStarting Their SentencesNo ContactTodd Details Filthy Prison ConditionsSavannah Chrisley Speaks OutJulie's Prison Sentence OverturnedA Tearful ApologyPresident Donald Trump Pardons the Chrisleys
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