The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would not take up the case concerning Joseph Maldonado-Passage, famously known as 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic. This decision effectively upholds the lower court rulings against him.

Joe Exotic's Legal Battle Continues

Maldonado-Passage is currently serving a 21-year federal prison sentence. This conviction stems from a 2019 plot where he hired two men to carry out a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Carole Baskin.

Seeking Overturn of Conviction

Exotic has consistently maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. He had been actively seeking to have his conviction overturned through the appellate process.

Claims of New Evidence

In 2023, Joe Exotic filed motions seeking a new trial. He argued that new evidence had emerged indicating that key witnesses had subsequently recanted their original testimonies.

The Supreme Court's refusal to grant a writ of certiorari means that the existing judgment against him remains in place for now. Exotic remains incarcerated in the Fort Worth federal prison.