Joe Exotic Alleges Abuse in Federal Prison, Seeks Trump Pardon

Joseph Maldonado, better known as Joe Exotic from Netflix’s Tiger King, has made shocking claims of abuse while serving time in a federal prison. Speaking on The Matt Gaetz Show on One America News Network, Exotic alleged that he was beaten and tortured by prison guards after refusing to comply with a guard's demand to perform a sexual act.

Exotic, who is currently incarcerated at the Fort Worth Medical Center, detailed the alleged incident, claiming, “Eight of them beat me up, stripped me naked, and tied me in a chair. They put me in the shower for so long, the skin came off my arms.” He added that his team had shared "bloody pictures" of the incident with Gaetz.

The interview came as Exotic reiterated his plea for a pardon from former President Donald Trump. When asked by Gaetz about his plans if pardoned, Exotic expressed his desire to testify before Congress about his experiences.

Exotic’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, also held a press conference earlier, claiming the case against Exotic should be overturned due to inconsistencies. “Joe Exotic did not hire anyone to murder anyone,” McCathern stated. He emphasized that there was no evidence of a completed murder-for-hire plot, no money exchanged, and no additional charges against others involved.

Exotic was convicted in 2020 for attempting to hire someone to kill Carole Baskin, a Florida animal sanctuary owner, as well as for wildlife violations. He is currently serving a 21-year sentence but continues to deny the charges, insisting he was framed.