Joe Exotic misses out on presidential pardon from Donald Trump
Joe Exotic's hopes of receiving a pardon from outgoing president Donald Trump have been dashed after his name was not included on the official list.
Exotic's legal team were fighting for his release, hoping Donald Trump would issue a pardon for him on his last day as the US president.
They were so confident Exotic would be pardoned today, his legal team reportedly even had a stretch limo waiting to pick him up from the prison.
READ MORE: Trump pardons 73 people on his last day in office: Read the full list
Mr Trump did issue pardons to a total of 73 convicted people, including Stephen Bannon, his former political strategist and rapper Lil Wayne.
Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for a murder-for-hire plot and for violating wildlife laws.
The leader of Maldonado-Passage's legal team told KOCO 5 that they were extremely confident about getting a presidential pardon and that the Netflix sensation had been positive.
"We've delivered everything that I wanted to do on this project," Eric Love said.
"I am absolutely confident that we are going to receive the pardon tomorrow. We worked very hard on it."
Mr Love – the lead advocate for Team Tiger, which is a group consisting of attorneys and private investigators who represent Maldonado-Passage – said he's the one who told "Joe Exotic" to look into a presidential pardon.
A 257-page application was filed last September.
According to Mr Love, Team Tiger expects to get the nod sometime later today.
But in the meantime, the group has prepared for Mr Maldonado-Passage's release.
READ ALSO: Trump skips chance to say splashy, high-profile farewell
The legal team fighting for his release believes President Donald Trump will issue a pardon for the man known as "Joe Exotic." AP
"We've got hair, makeup, wardrobes. Trust me, anything you can think of we have it, including a doctor and also a mental health expert," Mr Love said.
A limo had been on standby to collect Maldonado-Passage from the jail and transport him to a secure location.
"Joe's biggest thing is he can't wait to get out, as you can imagine, and he doesn't want anyone to see him until his hair is done," Mr Love said.
"So, the most important person tomorrow is the hair and makeup and wardrobe."
Even if Mr Maldonado-Passage is granted a pardon, Mr Love said the case is far from over.
READ ALSO: Pence not expected to attend Trump's departure ceremony
Donald J. Trump addresses the American people as the US President for the final time. Supplied
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, seen at the zoo he used to run in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Photo: File AP
READ ALSO: Capitol rioters hold out hope for a Trump pardon
"We're going to gain Joe's freedom, but guess who we're coming after? Everyone who was responsible for setting Joe up," Mr Love said.
"It's audio recordings. It's people saying exactly what I said – they set him up. It's ugly, man. It's real ugly.
"Did Joe hire a hitman? Absolutely not. We're able to prove that he did not."
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
