Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida’s 13th district is calling for Tory Lanez’s freedom. The Republican urged California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom to review the Toronto singer’s 2020 shooting case and issue Lanez (born Daystar Peterson) a pardon in a message posted to X on Monday (May 19).
“I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanez’s case and issue a pardon,” she wrote. “His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind— not driven by headlines. Free Tory Lanez.”
Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted on three felony counts tied to shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet following a July 2020 party in Hidden Hills, Calif.
Rep. Luna has also claimed via X on Tuesday (May 20) that new “compelling evidence” will be presented in the next 36 hours, which she believes will exonerate Lanez. “We have compelling evidence proving Tory Lanez’s innocence, and it will be released within the next 36 hours,” she wrote. “Those who rushed to call for his incarceration, and worse yet pushed false evidence, should prepare to be held accountable.”
Billboard has reached out to Megan Thee Stallion’s rep for comment on Luna’s messages on X.
Reps for Lanez from the Los Angeles nonprofit social justice organization Unite the People presented alleged new findings in Tory’s case during a press conference last week. Attorney Walter Roberts claimed that Kelsey Harris’ bodyguard, Bradley James, filed an affidavit claiming he overheard Harris admit to firing the weapon and not Lanez.
Megan Thee Stallion’s attorney, Alex Spiro, released a statement refuting Roberts’ claims. “Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers and his case was properly adjudicated through the court system,” he said. “This is not a political matter — this is a case of a violent assault that was resolved in the court of law.”
The “Savage” rapper herself also slammed the claims of new evidence on Monday. “FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it , it was PROVEN IN COURT f–k the hate campaign on the internet TORY YOU SHOT ME !!” she wrote in a social media post. “Ain’t no new f–king evidence yall been saying the same s–t for years.”
Lanez was stabbed in prison on May 12 inside California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. He was hospitalized for his injuries, and a statement posted hours later to his social media said he was stabbed 14 times, but was in “good spirits” while recovering. It also noted that his lungs had collapsed, but was breathing on his own at the time of the posting.
