During his final full day as US president, Donald Trump issued pardons for 143 people.
Those pardoned ranged from allies of the US president, such as Steve Bannon, to famous rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.
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Hide AdJoe Exotic, also known as the Tiger King, was among those waiting expectantly for a presidential pardon from the one-term president.
The incarcerated zoo operator reportedly claimed to have a limousine waiting near his prison in anticipation of the news, and has previously formally requested a presidential pardon.
Private investigator Eric Love who is leading Exotic’s case told Metro: “We’re going to be celebrating.”
“We have good reason to believe it will come through. We’re confident enough we already have a limousine parked about half a mile from the prison. We are really in action mode right now.”
Did Donald Trump pardon Joe Exotic?
Joe Exotic did not receive a pardon from the outgoing president.
Eric Love had earlier told BBC “We are 100% sure that today is our day”.
But on Tuesday night at 5pm local time, Love tweeted: “We are still waiting on the pardon”.
He maintained his optimism, tweeting in response to a follower: “Trust me....... I have done 219 interviews today. Saving the best for last.”
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Hide AdDonald Trump has previously joked that he’ll “take a look” at pardoning the former exotic animal trader.
Why is Joe Exotic in prison?
In 2019 Exotic was convicted of 17 federal charges of animal abuse and plotting to have animal rights activist Carole Baskin murdered.
Baskin and Exotic were locked in a long-running feud over the latter’s alleged mistreatment of animals.
Who did Donald Trump pardon?
The following people were issued with a pardon by Donald Trump on his final day in office:
Steve Bannon
Elliott Broidy
Kwame Kilpatrick
Lil Wayne
Kodak Black
Sholam Weiss
Anthony Levandowski
Todd Boulanger
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Abel Holtz
Rick Renzi
Kenneth Kurson
Casey Urlacher
Carl Andrews Boggs
Dr Scott Harkonen
Johnny D Phillips Jr
Dr Mahmoud Reza Banki
James E Johnson Jr
Tommaso Buti
Glen Moss
Aviem Sella
John Nystrom
Scott Conor Crosby
Lynn Barney
Joshua J Smith
Amy Povah
Dr Frederick Nahas
David Tamman
Dr Faustino Bernadett
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Paul Erickson
Gregory Jorgensen, Deborah Jorgensen, Martin Jorgensen (posthumous)
Todd Farha
Thaddeus Bereday
William Kale
Paul Behrens
Peter Clay
Patrick Lee Swisher
Robert Sherrill
Dr Robert S Corkern
David Lamar Clanton
George Gilmore
Desiree Perez
Robert “Bob” Zangrillo
Hillel Nahmad
Brian McSwain
John Duncan Fordham
William “Ed” Henry
Randall “Duke” Cunningham – conditional pardon
Stephen Odzer
Steven Benjamin Floyd
Joey Hancock
David E Miller
James Austin Hayes
Drew Brownstein
Robert Bowker
Amir Khan
David Rowland
Jessica Frease
Robert Cannon “Robin” Hayes
Thomas Kenton “Ken” Ford
Michael Liberty
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Greg Reyes
Ferrell Damon Scott
Jerry Donnell Walden
Jeffrey Alan Conway
Benedict Olberding
Syrita Steib-Martin
Michael Ashley
Lou Hobbs
Matthew Antoine Canady
Mario Claiborne
Rodney Nakia Gibson
Tom Leroy Whitehurst
Monstsho Eugene Vernon
Luis Fernando Sicard
DeWayne Phelps
Isaac Nelson
Traie Tavares Kelly
Javier Gonzales
Douglas Jemal
Eric Wesley Patton
Robert William Cawthon
Hal Knudson Mergler
Gary Evan Hendler
John Harold Wall
Steven Samuel Grantham
Clarence Olin Freeman
Fred Keith Alford
John Knock
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Kenneth Charles Fragoso
Luis Gonzalez
Anthony DeJohn
Corvain Cooper
Way Quoe Long
Michael Pelletier
Craig Cesal
Darrell Frazier
Lavonne Roach
Blanca Virgen
Robert Francis
Brian Simmons
Derrick Smith
Jaime A Davidson
Raymond Hersman
David Barren
James Romans
Jonathon Braun
Michael Harris
Kyle Kimoto
Chalana McFarland
Eliyahu Weinstein
John Estin Davis
Alex Adjmi
Noah Kleinman
Tena Logan
MaryAnne Locke
Jawad A Musa
Adriana Shayota
April Coots
Caroline Yeats
Jodi Lynn Richter
Kristina Bohnenkamp
Mary Roberts
Cassandra Ann Kasowski
Lerna Lea Paulson
Ann Butler
Sydney Navarro
Tara Perry
Jon Harder
Chris Young
Adrianne Miller
Fred “Dave” Clark
William Walters
James Brian Cruz
Salomon Melgen