Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has made headlines after publicly calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to issue a pardon for Canadian rapper Tory Lanez. The artist is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in connection with the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
The high-profile case culminated in his sentencing in August 2023, sparking ongoing debate over the trial’s fairness.
Torey Lanez performs during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada.
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Taking to social media, Luna voiced her concerns about the conviction and its broader implications. “I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanez’s case and issue a pardon,” Luna wrote.
“His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind — not driven by headlines.” She concluded her post with a clear call to action: “Free Tory Lanez.”
Supporters of Lanez have echoed similar sentiments, with some pointing to alternative narratives surrounding the events of the night in question.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) attends a Freedom Caucus press conference on the government funding bill at the U.S. Capitol on March 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Freedom Caucus chastised House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for working with Democrats and urged their Republican colleagues not to support the funding bill while calling for a government spending reduction, increased border security and scaling back of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
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Notably, Bradley James, a bodyguard, has claimed that Kelsey Harris — Megan Thee Stallion’s former friend and assistant — admitted to possessing and firing the gun multiple times. These claims have fueled petitions and social media campaigns pushing for Lanez’s release.
The movement gained further traction when fellow Canadian and former collaborator Drake’s Instagram Story featured the message “Come home soon,” along with a link to a Change.org petition titled, “Pardon Tory Lanez: Urge Governor Newsom to Correct a Deep Injustice.”
While Governor Newsom has not responded publicly to Luna’s appeal, her intervention marks a rare case of a sitting member of Congress weighing in on a celebrity legal battle, and it adds a new political dimension to a case that has already captivated public attention.
See Anna Paulina Luna’s X post below.
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