Joe Exotic, the star of the Netflix documentary Tiger King, has publicly urged President Donald Trump to grant him a presidential pardon following the deportation of his husband to Mexico. Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado, is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot against animal activist Carole Baskin.
In a social media post on Sunday, Exotic appealed directly to Trump, writing: "It’s really past time to have one of your people watch Tiger King Season 2, where they all admitted to perjury and a plot to kill me on world television and let me out." He added, "I know that you are not fond of my lifestyle, but I supported you just allow me go to Mexico with my husband."
Exotic's husband, Jorge Marquez Flores, had been held in Texas over immigration issues but was released on Friday and subsequently deported to Mexico. Exotic noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were puzzled by the speed of the deportation, as Flores had a hearing scheduled for the following day.
Exotic, 62, was convicted in 2020 of attempting to hire a hitman to kill Baskin, a rival big cat enthusiast. His original 22-year sentence was reduced by one year in 2022 after he began treatment for prostate cancer, which later went into remission but returned earlier this year. He married Flores, 33, in October after meeting him in prison—his fifth marriage.
This is not the first time Exotic has sought a pardon from Trump; in April 2020, Trump said he would "take a look" at the case. Exotic's latest plea includes a suggestion that Trump "keep Carole Baskin" if he is allowed to leave for Mexico.
