Tiger KingJoseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, was among the notable names who failed to get Donald Trump’s forgiveness before the former president stepped down. According to the reality star, this is because he is “very innocent and very GAY”.
Exotic, who is serving a 22-year sentence for violating federal wildlife laws and a failed conspiracy to murder the nemesis Carole Baskin, released a statement on Wednesday, hours after hoping for clemency. The Netflix sensation called Trump’s “corrupt friends” in addition to his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.
“I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a pardon from Trump. I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to comment on me to boost his post on social media, ”says a message on Exotic’s social media accounts. “Boy, were we all stupid to believe that he really stood up for Equal Justice? Your corrupt friends come first. “
Last April, Trump Jr. revealed that he discussed a possible pardon for Exotic with his father.
“He was fascinated,” recalled Trump Jr. “I think Melania may have shown him one of the memes I posted. It was like Donald Trump’s face with a Tiger King mullet, which was very epic. “
Lawyers for the former zoo operator were so confident that Exotic would be on Trump’s list that they hired a limo to pick him up from prison in Texas. But the call never came. Instead, there were 143 other recipients, including Lil Wayne, Kodak Black and Steve Bannon, who made the cut.
Can we talk about how funny it is that Joe Exotic’s team rented a limousine for him to leave in the expectation of a pardon that didn’t manifest? pic.twitter.com/XQ1wp6MObu
– Angry employee (@Angry_Staffer) January 20, 2021
Eric Love, a member of the Exotic defense team, expressed disappointment on Wednesday.
“140 million Joe Exotic fans had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. We are so disappointed that [Trump] did not sign Joe’s Pardon, because yesterday we were confident that he would, ”wrote Love,“ It’s just because of you, 140 million fans, that Joe’s Pardon was really a possibility ”.
Exotic has maintained its innocence since its conviction in 2019.
“Since his trial, the evidence has made it clear that Joe is not guilty, but a victim of the people he trusted most,” continued Love’s statement. “Team Tiger, this morning he spent two hours on the phone with Joe and listened to his oral arguments of direct appeal by Brandon Sample in Colorado. We will not stop, we will not rest until Joe’s injustice is corrected. “
Meanwhile, Baskin told Buzzfeed News that he is thrilled that Exotic has not received forgiveness.
“I think only Joe’s team and the media were thinking of a forgiveness for Joe,” Dancing with the stars alum said.
“There is no benefit, other than a feeble attempt to divert attention, for someone to forgive someone who walked up to five tigers and shot them in the head to make room in the cage for the circus, who would pay him to board his tigers during the off-season, ”she added. “Tigers are the world’s favorite animals and Joe Schreibvogel Maldonado’s pass is where it belongs: in a cage.”
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