First, some background via the Daily Beast:
In April 2022, Pensacola-based attorney Autumn Beck Blackledge approached then-Rep. Matt Gaetz with a “very, very important question” from one of her clients, Tiger King star Joe Exotic, who in 2019 was convicted of 17 counts of animal abuse and attempted murder for hire.
“If you do decide to run for president, would you please consider him as one of your running mates?” Blackledge said. “I would pardon him,” Gaetz said, as Blackledge laughed and high-fived him. “That is the extent of the commitment I can make.”
Now, more than two years later, Gaetz—who has been investigated for paying for sex, trafficking teenage girls, and abusing illegal drugs, all of which he denies—is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement officer.
Posted yesterday to Joe Exotic’s website:
For Immediate Release: Joe Exotic to Matt Gaetz; I am innocent/pardon request
Congressman Matt Gaetz, Congratulations on being named for the appointment of Attorney General of the United States. There is no one better for this job than you.
The question is why am I still in prison? Why does the current President and administration not give a damn about my innocence or the fact that these people that have committed real crimes and not been charged in my case and me allowed to return home?
You will have the power to correct this or at least recommend to President Trump to correct this in January of 2025.
I used to love my country but 7 years of being put through hell by my own country I have now questioned if I want to stay in America. I am sure that you have seen all the press this last couple of weeks.
I would love to become the Director of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service and clean up the waste and the corruption within that department since President Trump is appointing people that can do that exact thing.
My only dilemma is I have full intentions on marrying Jorge Flores- a Mexican national who needs asylum to remain in America or I must go to Mexico with him.
Either way the FWS needs a major overhaul and the best thing about that department I have heard on the news in the last 7 years is on Fox News a gentleman said Trump needs to abolish that Department and return it to the states like the abortion issue.
In his post, Exotic goes to claim physical and psychological abuse by prison officials. You may recall that Exotic was so convinced that Trump would pardon him in the final days of his first term that he had a limo waiting outside of prison.
Gaetz will be President Trump’s Attorney General. This is good news.@RepMattGaetz has an open investigation into my case and we’ve been in contact for years.
The truth is coming to light. Thank you to everyone who stands by me. Love you all. https://t.co/Z88pd89vl5 pic.twitter.com/9lrSzDTDM2
— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) November 13, 2024