Tiger King star Joe Exotic has called for the judge in his upcoming civil case to be replaced due to "major conflict of interest".
The 57-year-old is currently serving a 22-year jail term after being found guilty of conspiring to murder Carole Baskin, as well as charges of animal cruelty.
Exotic is looking to secure his release with a case in which he is also looking for $89m (£72m) and a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
In a document published on The Mirror, Exotic has demanded that Judge Scott Palk be replaced for his behaviour during previous trials involving the eccentric zookeeper.
It states: "The Plaintiff argues that not only does Judge Scott Palk have a conflict of interest in all of these cases but has a borderline conflict of being an animals rights advocate, and homophobic due to the hostile and agitated remarks made in open court toward the Plaintiff during sentencing of the criminal case of which he should have recused himself from the beginning of the criminal case.
"Remarks made like 'I will make sure you are never around another animal the rest of your life'. The plaintiff has never been accused of animal abuse in his life to deserve such a statement.
"Judge Palk also stated, 'You were trying to broker a pair of lions to support your husband from Jail' in a very hostile voice. Which even if the Plaintiff would have done this, which he did not. It was perfectly legal as it was within the boundaries of the State of Texas of which his husband and the breeder lived.
"So all of this was uncalled for. Remarks due to Judge Scott Palk's prejudice because of being involved in all the civil cases, so the Plaintiff is asking for the motion to have Judge Scott Palk recuse himself and a non-bias Judge to be appointed this case."
Exotic's case also alleges that his mother Shirley was murdered.
Neil Wilkes
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