Joe Exotic has said that new evidence of "corruption" at the US Department of Justice will be presented this week as he fights to be released from prison.

The 57-year-old - subject of the hit Netflix documentary series Tiger King - is serving a 22-year jail term for charges including animal cruelty and a plot to murder his long-term rival Carole Baskin.

Exotic has been petitioning Donald Trump for a presidential pardon in order to secure his freedom, but time is running out fast, with Trump's time in office due to come to an end next Wednesday, January 20.

Taking to Twitter, Exotic told his followers: "I pray to God that Trump has me on that list for the 19th right next to Don Jr and thousands of others.

"There is a new line of evidence coming this week to show the corruption in the DOJ. #freejoeexotic #pardonjoeexotic #helpfreejoeexotic #DonaldJTrumpJr #TedCruz"

Questioned on the matter at a press conference last year, Trump said that he would "look into" Exotic's case.