Latest news with #CaldwellInstituteforPublicSafety
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Congresswoman Calls For Tory Lanez's Pardon After Prison Stabbing Incident
Republican Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna has called for Tory Lanez's freedom. The politician posted a plea for the rapper's freedom on social media, which has caught the attention of many fans. Luna's call comes a week after Lanez was brutally stabbed multiple times in prison, where he is currently serving a 10-year jail term for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. On Monday, Luna took to Twitter to share a link to a petition championed by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson. In addition to sharing the link, Luna made an impassioned plea to Newsom. She wrote, "I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanez's case and issue a pardon." Luna continued, "His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind— not driven by headlines." She concluded by writing, "Free Tory Lanez." Luna's request to the California Governor generated wide-ranging reactions from netizens, with some supporting her call while others questioned it. One person in support wrote, "At one point, I was on Megan Thee Stallion's side, but I actually took time to read this case Jesus Christ, bro... it is so messy and inconsistent.. and the people that are upset are the people that have never read into the case at all. They're just getting all their information from Twitter." Another person supporting the call for Lanez's release wrote, "Absolutely agree. Every case deserves a fair review, free from politics or media pressure. Equal justice should always come first." A third person added, "Thank you for using your voice to bring an innocent man home." On the other hand, several others slammed Luna, asking her to focus on what she was elected for. One person wrote, "Stick to Florida and stay out of California business." Another person added, "@RepLuna, you are totally wrong. Have you reviewed the case? There was nothing political about this shooting that occurred in 2020. You have been lied to and misled. This man had 3 years to gather a defense and have his witnesses. Including his personal bodyguard who disappeared then on the last day suddenly appeared. His own witness a neighbor put the weapon in his hands. So by all means, let's review the evidence. You will find the verdict was justified. You just made it a political issue." Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's call for Lanez's pardon follows new evidence presented by his attorneys in their continued fight for his freedom. On May 14, The Blast reported that Unite the People (UTP), a nonprofit focused on legal advocacy, held a press conference introducing a statement from Bradley James, the former driver and bodyguard of Megan's ex-best friend, Kelsey Harris. James claimed he overheard Harris confess to firing the weapon herself, with Lanez intervening to stop her. According to James, Lanez never fired or touched the gun. UTP's legal consultant, Walter Roberts, stated that James's account aligns with previous trial testimony from Sean Kelly, the only non-involved eyewitness, who also placed Harris near the weapon. Roberts raised concerns about investigative inconsistencies, pointing out that Lanez was the only person tested for DNA, despite unknown DNA being found on the gun. He questioned why Harris and the driver, Jaequan Smith, were not tested or if their results were withheld. The new claims added further complexity to the case, which has been riddled with controversy and unanswered questions from the very beginning. UTP's presentation of new evidence came two days after Lanez was brutally stabbed 14 times on May 12, 2025, at California Correctional Institution. The attacker, 42-year-old Santino Casio, is a convicted murderer with a long history of violent offenses while incarcerated. Casio reportedly ambushed Lanez in a housing unit, causing both of the rapper's lungs to collapse. Emergency responders rushed Lanez to the hospital, where he was placed on a breathing device. Despite the severe injuries, he is now breathing on his own and is in stable condition. Meanwhile, authorities began an investigation into how Casio was able to carry out the attack, given his violent background.
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Drake urges pardon for Tory Lanez after brutal prison stabbing
Rapper Drake is calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Tory Lanez after the rapper was brutally stabbed 14 times in prison. Drake posted the petition to his Instagram story with the message, 'Come home soon,' urging fans to sign the petition hosted on which has already garnered over 270,000 signatures. Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. Last week, Lanez was attacked by inmate Santino Casio at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Casio, a convicted killer serving a life sentence, reportedly stabbed Lanez in the back, torso, head, and face, causing both of his lungs to collapse. According to a post on Lanez's Instagram, the rapper was temporarily placed on a breathing apparatus but is now breathing independently and said to be in good spirits. The petition shared by Drake was launched by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety. It questions the credibility of witness testimonies and evidence used in Lanez's trial and calls for a full pardon. The shooting case remains highly controversial, with several artists including 50 Cent and Iggy Azalea having previously voiced support for Lanez. Drake's earlier lyrics also appeared to cast doubt on Megan Thee Stallion's version of events. Governor Newsom has yet to issue any statement regarding the petition or the prison incident. Meanwhile, Lanez has teased a new prison-recorded album titled Peterson.
San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Drake urges Newsom to pardon Tory Lanez after California prison stabbing
Rapper Drake is urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon fellow Canadian artist Tory Lanez, following a violent prison stabbing that sparked a surge of public support. Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is serving a 10-year sentence at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi (Kern County) for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020. He was hospitalized last week with what authorities described as non-life-threatening injuries after being attacked during morning yard time. According to a post on his Instagram account, Lanez was stabbed 14 times, suffered two collapsed lungs, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Bakersfield. In response, Drake shared a petition calling for Lanez's release, posting 'come home soon' on his Instagram Story on Friday, May 16. The petition, titled Pardon Tory Lanez: Urge Governor Newsom to Correct a Deep Injustice, alleges 'overwhelming evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, missing forensic data, and politically motivated sentencing.' The petition was launched by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety, a Miami-based organization with ties to conservative legal figures. Since Drake's endorsement, the number of signatures has nearly doubled, reaching over 268,000 as of the weekend. 'Justice is not served by silencing voices or succumbing to mob pressure,' the Institute stated. 'We must stand for fairness, even when it's unpopular.' Lanez was convicted in December 2022 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and two related charges stemming from the July 2020 shooting, which occurred after a party at Kylie Jenner's house. This is not the first time Drake has voiced support for Lanez. In a December livestream, he toasted the rapper, saying, 'Three up T, man. Three up T. I know they don't want to hear me say that. Three up T.' 'Three' is a play on the word 'free' and also symbolizes the number three, often used to represent broken handcuffs and the concept of liberation. Lanez is eligible for parole in 2029. The California Department of Corrections identified Santino Casio, who is serving a life sentence for murder, as the suspect in the stabbing.
