Tiger King star Joe Exotic announces bid to run for US president from prison
In a twist worthy of a Netflix true crime documentary, Joe Exotic, aka The Tiger King, has announced his intention to run for President of the United States from prison.
The 59-year-old reality star was was jailed in 2019 for a string of offences including animal abuse charges and a murder-for-hire plot, but that's not stopping from throwing his hat in the ring to become leader of the US.
In a message on his campaign website, Joe, real name Joseph Maldonado, says he's running to become president to give people a voice and "your freedom back".
He says: "That is why I am doing this, to finally give you a voice and your freedom back without fear of living in a country that thinks they own you and can tell you how to live your life."
Joe Exotic was jailed in 2019 (Brentwood Gazette)In the message, Joe accused politicians of taking away "hard earned money and calling it taxes", and said he wants to use his "world platform" to make them listen.
Joe Exotic's doctors 'believe cancer has spread' as star 'refuses treatment'
He began the letter stating: "Yes, I know I am in Federal Prison and you might think this is a joke but it's not. It is my constitutional right to do this even from here."
Joe star is serving a 21 year jail sentence, after being convicted of two plots to hire two separate men to kill Big Cat Rescue owner Carole Baskin, who also starred in the Netflix documentary, Tiger King.
Joe Exotic has announced his intention to run for president (Handout)However, in his campaign message he maintained his conviction was the result of a stitch up.
Caroline even gets a shout out in Joe's introductory message.
He says: "So put aside that I am gay, that I am in prison for now, that I used drugs in the past, that I had more then one boyfriend at once and that Carole hates my guts.
"This all has not a thing to do with me being able to be your voice.
"The best thing you have going for supporting me is that I am used to fighting my whole life just to get by."
Joe was convicted of two plots to hire men to kill Carole Baskin (Sunday Mirror/Andy Stenning)After his incarceration, Joe, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer, but revealed in July that he is in remission.
However, last month, it was reported that Joe's medical team believe his prostate cancer has spread to his bladder, but the jailed star is refusing treatment.
Joe has recently had a lot of blood in his urine and has bled a lot during his cancer treatments, according to a letter obtained by TMZ.
Struggling Joe Exotic losing weight while locked in cage 'too small for monkeys'
The letter, reported to be written by Exotic, said: "I want to stay here and just let it take its course.
"The world has to know just how corrupt our justice system is … If I have to be the one to die innocent in here fighting for the truth maybe people around the world will finally speak up for the truth for once."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
