Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has taken to social media to assert that new evidence proving Tory Lanez’s innocence in the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion shooting case will be released within the next 36 hours.
“Those who rushed to call for his incarceration, and worse yet pushed false evidence, should prepare to be held accountable,”
Luna declared on X, sparking a firestorm of speculation and anticipation. This bold move by a Republican lawmaker from Florida has thrust the controversial case back into the spotlight, raising questions about why Luna is so deeply invested in Lanez’s plight and what this could mean for the rapper’s future.
Luna, known for her outspoken conservative stance and advocacy for criminal justice reform, has positioned herself as a fierce critic of what she perceives as prosecutorial overreach and systemic bias in the legal system. Her involvement in Tory Lanez’s case stems from her broader mission to address constitutional violations and racial disparities in sentencing.
Luna has highlighted several issues in Lanez’s conviction, including mishandled evidence, violations of due process, and the application of a firearm enhancement law that she claims disproportionately targets Black defendants. According to Luna, Black defendants face this enhancement at a 92% higher rate than others, which she labels as discriminatory rather than just.
Her advocacy also seems fueled by a belief that Lanez’s case was tainted by political pressure and media frenzy. Luna has pointed to constitutional concerns, including the use of Lanez’s lyrics as evidence (a potential First Amendment violation), the denial of his right to confront witnesses (a Sixth Amendment issue), and unequal protection under the law (a Fourteenth Amendment violation). As a congresswoman with a platform, Luna’s vocal support could be an attempt to leverage her influence to push for a review of what she sees as a miscarriage of justice.
A recent violent incident amplified the urgency of Luna’s call for justice. On May 12, 2025, Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was brutally stabbed 14 times at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Santino Casio, a convicted murderer with a history of violent prison offenses, left Lanez with collapsed lungs.
Emergency responders airlifted the rapper to a Bakersfield hospital, where he was placed on a breathing apparatus. According to a statement on his Instagram, Lanez is now stable, breathing independently, and reportedly in good spirits. The motive for the attack remains unclear, but it has added a humanitarian dimension to calls for his release, with supporters arguing that his safety is at risk in prison.
Luna’s social media posts outline a series of grievances about handling Lanez’s case. She claims that the forensic evidence was deeply flawed: DNA testing showed only a 0.01% chance that Lanez’s DNA was on the firearm, and none was found on the magazine. Additionally, DNA from four individuals was detected on the gun, with Tory Lanez not being a primary contributor.
Luna also noted that key gunshot residue tests were never performed on other potential suspects, raising doubts about the prosecution’s case. She alleges that the trial used up entire DNA samples before the defense could test them and withheld reports until just before the trial, which she argues is a clear violation of due process.
Luna further contends that Lanez’s 10-year sentence, despite his lack of a prior criminal record, was inflated by a firearm enhancement law now under scrutiny for racial bias. She asserts that these issues, combined with the case’s high-profile nature, have denied Lanez a fair hearing.
“Justice isn’t served when due process is ignored, evidence is mishandled, and race plays a role in sentencing,”
Luna stated, emphasizing that Lanez deserves a fair review and, potentially, his freedom.
Lanez’s legal team, backed by the nonprofit Unite the People, recently presented new testimony from Bradley James, a former bodyguard for Kelsey Harris, Megan Thee Stallion’s ex-friend who was present during the 2020 incident. James claims he overheard Harris admit to firing the gun, with Lanez intervening to stop her. This aligns with testimony from a non-involved eyewitness, Sean Kelly, who placed Harris near the weapon during the trial.
This new evidence, if substantiated, could challenge the narrative that led to Lanez’s conviction on three felony charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun.
Lanez has also filed several legal appeals, such as a direct appeal, a petition for habeas corpus, and a successive habeas petition, which were subsequently consolidated by the California Court of Appeals. A panel is in place, and oral arguments are imminent. Although these actions imply that the case is hardly closed, the appeals process is notoriously glacial, and the standard for overturning a verdict is exacting.
The question of interest to everyone is whether or not Lanez might walk free inside of that 36-hour timeframe Luna spoke of—the short answer: not likely. Though Luna’s threat of “compelling evidence” has made headlines, the legal process takes time to execute. Even if evidence were to be newly released, it’d be up to the courts to review it or up to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to consider it for a pardon, which takes time. Newsom can issue a pardon, but there’s no indication he’s willing to be hasty, particularly considering this case is polarizing to many.
But Luna’s entry may change public and political dynamics. Her push for accountability and presentation of the case as one of constitutional and racial justice might appeal to those who are already questioning Lanez’s conviction. The hip-hop world is still polarized, with figures like Drake, Chris Brown, and Iggy Azalea speaking up for Lanez, while others, such as Kehlani and JoJo, stand behind Megan Thee Stallion.
Suppose the newly uncovered proof is as incriminating as Luna portrays. In that case, it might support Lanez’s appeals or cause Newsom to rethink clemency. However, Megan’s supporters and lawyers, who hold that Lanez was rightfully convicted, would strongly oppose that process.
