‘Tiger King’: Joe Exotic Files $94 Million Lawsuit, Requests Presidential Pardon
Netflix’s strange new addiction, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, is a doozy. It tells the true-life story of big cat zookeeper, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, and his murder-for-hire plot against arch-nemesis, Carole Baskin. Now, the roadside breeder is suing the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service for $94 million and requesting a presidential pardon. Here’s the scoop.
Joe Exotic is currently serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison
Oklahoma zookeeper, Joe Exotic, murder-for-hire plot against the animal activist, Carole Baskin. His sentence includes 17 wildlife violations and the killing of five tigers at his exotic zoo.
Joe Exotic is currently serving a 22-year sentence behind bars at the Grady County Jail in Oklahoma. Joe Exotic allegedly hired a hitman for $3,000 to murder Baskin. The hit was not successful.
The documentary subject said the tigers were humanely euthanized after “14 years of painful walking on declawed paws to the point that they were crippled.”
Now, in a wild twist, Joe Exotic has filed a new lawsuit from his jail cell.
Why is Joe Exotic suing the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service?
After the bizarre string of events, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Joe Exotic is representing himself in a $94 million lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service and former business partner, Jeffrey Lowe, of filing false statements to federal agents.
“He was the main person in this entrapment scheme to take my zoo for free,” Joe Exotic alleged. “Changed my medicine with illegal drugs, stole my animals under fraudulent reasons.”
The lawsuit includes “$73,840,000 is for loss of personal property; 18 years of research; and care of 200 generic tigers and cross-breeds for 365 days a year, at a boarding rate of $60/day per animal,” according to People.
The extra $15 million is “for false arrest, false imprisonment, selective enforcement and the death of his mother, Shirley,” the outlet reported.
Claims suggest Joe Exotic was unfairly targeted
Exotic Joe alleged the government put a “generic animal” on the endangered species list — a tiger — to file charges against him. Exotic Joe claimed the charges furthered their “animal rights agenda.”
Other portions of the lawsuit include Joe Exotic’s claims that “a wildlife agent knowingly accepted statements he knew were false, allowing his witnesses to lie under oath. Misleading a grand jury and not seeking the truth to further an animal rights agenda. False arrest, entrapment, false imprisonment, all contributing to my mother’s death.”
The zookeeper believes he was targeted for being “an openly gay male with the largest collection of generic tigers and crossbreeds.”
Lowe and his wife, Lauren Lowe, aren’t worried. They’ll care for the animals left in the zoo.
“They are our family. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You give up a lot to care for these animals and we are going to keep doing that…,” she said.
“We want to make sure they live well. Joe abandoned all these cats. We spend countless dollars just trying to bring these guys back up to health and making sure they get the best food they can get and healthcare too.”
The country-western singer asked for a presidential pardon
In an added twist, Joe Exotic asked President Trump to pardon his conviction against Baskin. He posted details via his Facebook page.
“This lawsuit has been filed in the name of Justice, The Trump Administration must be made aware of the Overreach, perjury, abuse of power and the failure to uphold the Oath of their position which is truth and Justice for all,” he said in the post.
“I have been illegally charged with these crimes and the Trump Administration, the United States Department of Interior along with the Federal Wildlife service must be held accountable for what they have done to me, my parents and my family, along with my animals,” he continued.
It’s unclear if Joe Exotic will receive the pardon or any money. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness is the seven-part docu-series you didn’t know you needed. It’s available to stream via Netflix now.
