Joe Exotic Writes Letter To President Trump Asking For Pardon

From behind bars, Joe Maldonado-Passage aka Joe Exotic wrote a letter to the nation's commander in chief. 

The infamous "Tiger King" is asking his former presidential opponent, Donald Trump for a pardon.

In the letter, Maldonado-Passage calls on a former adversary. 

See Also - Exclusive Interview: Joe Exotic Says He's In Shock, Has Plans To File Appeal After Verdict 

“I’m Joe Exotic, and don't forget I am now stepping my foot in the ring to run for president.”

And while he wasn't able to capture his opponent's attention while at a Trump fundraising campaign in 2016, he’s now hoping the president will hear his plea for help.

His letter reads in part, “Mr. President, I am asking for a special investigation or a Presidential Pardon from the conviction I have just received. Here in America we used to take the swearing of oath seriously to tell the truth.  These days it means nothing to anyone, not even the Department of Justice or the U.S Attorney’s Office. My trial was not about the truth, it was about the win for the prosecutors.”

He goes on to say he's in prison because a quote, "seasoned con man" wanted his zoo.

In closing, he says, “I know by seeing your passion and conviction regarding our rights as American Citizens that this isn't what you meant by your belief to "Let's Make America Great Again." Mr. President, I am pleading with you to please have this looked into.” 

In addition to his letter to the president, Maldonado-Passage’s supporters have started their own letter campaign, also calling on the president for his pardon.

Maldonado-Passage told News 9 if he isn't pardoned, he will seek another trial. He could ask for a change of venue, something his attorney's recommended, but he declined.

Read entire letter below:

Mr. President,

I am asking for a special investigation or a Presidential Pardon from the Conviction I have Just received.

Here in America we use to take the swearing of Oath seriously to tell the truth.  These days it means nothing to anyone, not even the Department of Justice or the U.S Attorney’s Office. My trial was not about the truth, it was about the win for the prosecutors. Why do I say this? Because I can prove every lie and the U.S Attorney’s Office had that proof to serve real justice and they ignored using the evidence both sides had to present to the jury.

I am being sent to prison for a form being filled out wrong by my vet's secretary under the Endangered Species Act.

I am being sent to prison for forms filled out wrong by the zoo manager while I was over 1000 miles away.... Under the Endangered Species Act.

I am being sent to prison because my Federal Inspector Debbie Cunningham with the USDA told me to write donated on the transfer forms but avoided being served for trial, so she'd have to admit to this.

I am being sent to prison for Euthanizing my own Tigers that were born and raised at my zoo to keep them from suffering because Congress did not put in the wording the word (TAKE) was meant for animals in the wild not in America.

I am being sent to Prison because a seasoned con man wanted my zoo so bad for free that he set me up in a plan he devised to look like I participated in his murder for hire scheme to get me out of his way to take over. His right-hand man and co-conspirator who helped devise the plan to avoid animal related charges himself, admitted under oath that he was offered 100k to get rid of me. And the other, his long-time hired man, a convicted felon, lied under Oath saying I was involved in this plot and I can prove it. The U.S Attorney’s Office knows he was lying and did nothing, including turning a blind eye to:

- Human Trafficking

- Credit Card fraud

- Identity theft

- Internet fraud

- Drugging young women for sex

- Mailing drugs through Fedex and much more 

All my proof was turned over and completely ignored just to push an animal right agenda to ban owning exotic animals.

I know by seeing your passion and conviction regarding our rights as American Citizens that this isn't what you meant by your belief to "Let's Make America Great Again".

Mr. President, I am pleading with you to please have this looked into. I am currently incarcerated at the Grady County Jail in Oklahoma and facing 20 - 50 years in prison for doing the same thing every zoo and sanctuary owner has had to do at one time or another.   

Very Respectfully,

Joseph Maldonado-Passage