The Supreme Court slammed the door Monday on Joe Exotic’s latest legal bid for freedom, leaving the Tiger King with one final hope: a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Final Legal Avenue CLOSED
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, the former Oklahoma zoo owner who became a household name through Netflix’s 2020 docuseries Tiger King, lost his last judicial option when the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal. The 61-year-old is currently serving a 21-year sentence after being convicted in a murder-for-hire plot targeting animal rights activist Carole Baskin. His attorneys filed the petition February 4, arguing newly discovered evidence undermines the government’s entire case against him.
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals previously rejected Maldonado-Passage’s request for a new trial despite his legal team highlighting significant flaws in the prosecution’s case. A judge originally sentenced him to 22 years in prison before reducing it by one year. The Supreme Court’s refusal to review the case eliminates any remaining judicial pathways to challenge his conviction through the courts.
The Supreme Court this week declined to hear an appeal from the exotic animal breeder known as "Joe Exotic" and "Tiger King," leaving intact his federal conviction and 21-year prison sentence in a murder-for-hire case. https://t.co/JgnNa0rJAt
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 5, 2026
Defense Claims SETUP and Witness Recantations
Maldonado-Passage’s legal team presented compelling arguments that raise serious questions about the integrity of his conviction. Multiple witnesses have recanted their trial testimony, according to court filings submitted to the Tenth Circuit. His attorneys also alleged prosecutors concealed evidence related to immunity agreements with key witnesses. Defense attorney Levi McCathern pointed out a fundamental problem with the conviction itself. No one was killed. No one was paid. And no one except Joe Exotic was ever charged with any crime related to the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
Trump Pardon Remains Only Hope
With all judicial options exhausted, Maldonado-Passage’s supporters have turned their attention to President Donald Trump as his only remaining chance for freedom. The Tiger King launched a public campaign seeking a presidential pardon during Trump’s previous term. In April 2020, Trump indicated he would look into the matter, though he has not commented on the case recently. Constitutional pardon power gives the president sole authority to grant clemency in federal cases, regardless of court decisions. For Joe Exotic, that presidential prerogative now represents the difference between spending the next decade behind bars or walking free.