Tiger King’s Joe Exotic believes Trump will pardon his murder-for-hire conviction, prepares limo in celebration

Exotic is currently serving his first year of a 22-year prison sentence

Tiger King star Joe Exotic believes that Donald Trump will pardon him from his 22-year prison sentence.

Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January to 22 years in prison. A jury convicted him of two counts of murder-for-hire, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. 

Exotic’s lawyers have been corresponding with officials in Washington DC in connection with arranging a pardon, according to his representative Eric Love.

Love told TMZ  that he is already preparing the welcome-home festivities, including the reservation of a Dodge Ram limousine on call for Exotic’s potential ride home from prison.

The zookeeper, whose story is the subject of hit Netflix documentary Tiger King, is currently serving his sentence in FMC Forth prison. He is scheduled for release in 2037.

Exotic previously wrote to the president, pleading with him to ‘be my hero’ (Netflix)

In the case against him, authorities said that Exotic had attempted to bribe an FBI agent to murder his business rival Carole Baskin in December 2017. He was recorded saying: “Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off.”

In September, the 57-year-old asked the president for a pardon in a letter, in which he pleaded with Trump to “be my hero”. He urged the president to “grant me a miracle” by way of a pardon.

The handwritten note was accompanied by a 257-page report to the US Department of Justice requesting a presidential pardon.