MAGA activist uses pepper spray in viral confrontation: ‘I carry Mace at all times’

A physical confrontation at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station went viral after conservative activist Cam Higby pepper-sprayed a woman who was seen on video allegedly lunging at him and hitting him with his MAGA hat — an incident he said underscores his mission to confront political hostility head-on while promoting open debate through his “Fearless Tour,” inspired by late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Higby, who said his mission is to expose violence on the left and promote peaceful political dialogue, visited Union Station after hosting a debate event Wednesday at the University of Maryland.

In a phone interview Thursday with Fox News Digital, Higby explained the group was sitting and having conversations with nearby protesters when a woman approached him and started being combative.

‘FEARLESS’ TOUR TAKES CHARLIE KIRK’S FREE SPEECH MISSION TO COLLEGES NATIONWIDE

“At some point, she dropped to her knees, intentionally … and she started yelling at us and started touching us,” Higby said. “I told her to back up and stop touching me, and she lunged at me and attacked me.”

Video footage captured the woman pushing Higby back in his chair, taking his hat, and hitting him with it before falling into a bush where he pepper-sprayed her.

Higby said it was unclear if the woman had any weapons, as she had her hands in her pockets during the majority of the encounter.

After being pepper sprayed, Higby said the woman walked over to a light pole where other protesters helped to wash her eyes out and called police.

FLORIDA WOMAN CHARGED WITH FELONY AFTER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING 73-YEAR-OLD DURING CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL

Initially, it seemed no arrests would occur, but when U.S. Park Police arrived, Higby said the woman allegedly became combative, resisted arrest, and assaulted officers. 

“At this point now, she’s struggling with federal police, and then they tried to arrest her,” he said. “Her dad is yelling at us, ‘why did you spray my daughter,’ as she’s actively fighting with federal police. In my head, I’m thinking, this is why she got sprayed. It took four federal police officers to hold her down, and finally they loaded her into the back of the police car.”

In police reports, Higby said he and his colleague were listed as victims, and she is expected to face federal charges.

U.S. Park Police did not immediately confirm the woman’s identity or charges to Fox News Digital.

YEARS OF CAMPUS ATTACKS ON CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS RESURFACE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER

Higby is no stranger to violence, having been allegedly attacked in June at an anti-ICE rally in downtown Seattle.

In the June 14 incident, he was filmed being attacked by three men who tried to rip off his gear, choke and beat him before he pepper-sprayed one assailant in self-defense. 

Higby said he suffered a concussion, dizziness, nausea and other symptoms that required ER and urgent care treatment.

“I’ve come to the point where I carry Mace on me at all times,” he said. “I think I show incredible restraint with the points at which I use my Mace, because I personally think after four verbal warnings not to touch me, it would have been perfectly valid to use it. … The roles are reversed, and I’m overly criticized because it’s a woman, but I don’t know what she has on her, and I’m not going to throw a punch at her. I think that using Mace is way better [alternative].”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

On college campuses, Higby and his group have become known for setting up debate tables modeled after Kirk’s style, with signs reading, “The left is violent! Let’s Debate!” 

While critics argue the messaging can spark heated reactions, Higby noted the most recent Union Station incident unfolded without any signage present, where the only thing identifying his group were their MAGA hats.

“We want people fired up. We want people to be excited to talk about political issues, but what we don’t invite people to do is touch us, and that’s the problem,” he said. “I think most of my takes are pretty reasonable. That’s your problem, not my problem—if you have such low impulse control that you can’t stop yourself from using physical violence.”

Military community reacts to Hegseth’s demand for fitness, loyalty

War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a blunt message to military leaders from around the globe this week: Get fit, get on board with the Trump agenda or get out.

It marked the first time generals from around the world had been summoned to convene with the secretary, and many had expected closed-door announcements on trimming the general officer corps, drawing down forces in the Middle East and Europe or cutting civilian and contractor roles.

Instead, what they got was a televised address from Hegseth and President Donald Trump. The secretary pushed a populist message of handing decision-making back to the warfighter, requiring senior leadership to perform physical training in line with lower-ranking officers and bringing uniformity back to the force.

Garrett Smith, an active-duty Marine Corps reservist and CEO of defense tech firm Reveal, said the spectacle was unusual but not without precedent.

TRUMP DECLARES ‘REAWAKENING’ OF ‘WARRIOR SPIRIT,’ UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR MILITARY: ‘I HAVE YOUR BACKS’

“At a first level, at any big multinational corporation or big organization, when there’s a new boss, it’s totally reasonable to call in all your regional managers and VPs for a setting of tone, to reconfirm the agenda, to ensure alignment. So, all of that makes sense,” Smith said. 

“But, obviously, these are not normal times. This is the Trump administration. So, it’s going to come with a bunch of enhanced drama and mystique and weirdness about it. … The policy and the action might have been totally great, but much of the country is going to be left wondering, ‘What was that really about?’”

Even so, Smith argued, the underlying message was unmistakable: “A return to warfighting and preparation for winning wars as the priority mission of the department. There was a perception we’d strayed from that, that it had become just one mission among many. Reconfirming that this is the mission is really important — investing in a warfighting ethos.”

At a moment when the Trump administration is on alert for internal resistance to its agenda, the speech served as a reminder to commanders stationed far from Washington that their authority ultimately flows from the president.

“This is a historic come-to-Jesus meeting,” said Chad Robicheaux, a former reconnaissance Marine who deployed to Afghanistan eight times. “The message is clear. The days of divisiveness, resistance and undermining leadership are over.”

“It was crystal clear. Generals and admirals are on notice. Comply and enforce these new policies and culture or be fired. No more woke leaders,” said Amber Smith, a combat veteran and advisor with the Coalition for Military Excellence.

“The topic today is about the nature of ourselves, because no plan, no program, no reform, no formation will ultimately succeed unless we have the right people and the right culture at the Department of War,” Hegseth told the group.

He emphasized that combat fitness tests would be gender-neutral and that high-level officers would need to meet standards.

“It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It’s not who we are,” he said. “Whether you’re an airborne Ranger or a chairborne Ranger, a brand-new private or a four-star general, you need to meet the height and weight standards and pass your PT test.”

Hegseth announced that all personnel must pass physical training tests and meet weight requirements twice a year and would be required to work out daily. 

“We’re not talking, like, hot yoga and stretching,” he said. “Real hard PT.”

That represented a departure from previous years, when fitness standards often fell away once officers reached higher ranks and desk-bound commands.

HEGSETH INSTATES ‘HIGHEST MALE STANDARD ONLY’ FOR COMBAT, OTHER CHANGES, DECLARING DEPT. OF DEFENSE ‘IS OVER’

Smith, who comes from the infantry, said the focus on standards for physical readiness was part of that shift. 

“If we want to present a deterring force to the world so we don’t have to go to war, we have to be ready to win the next war. That is the deterrent force we project,” he said.

At the same time, Smith acknowledged the cultural edge of Hegseth’s message. 

“There was an obvious and very clear anti-woke, anti-social justice threat in there. That is unique to this administration, and it has to be a part of their message every time. That’s not a surprise given the last four or five years.”

From Trump, generals saw a preview of what is expected in the forthcoming national defense strategy, a renewed focus on homeland defense and U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Trump suggested crime-ridden U.S. cities could even serve as “training grounds” for troops.

“I told Pete we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military — National Guard, but military — because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” Trump said.

HEGSETH TELLS TROOPS TO RESIGN IF THEY OPPOSE HIS PLAN TO SCRAP ‘WOKE’ POLICIES AND RESTORE WARRIOR ETHOS

Hegseth’s message carried a personal edge rooted in his own military experience. A former Army National Guard officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hegseth left the service at the rank of major, well short of the general officer tier he now oversees.

That trajectory has long colored his outsider posture toward the Pentagon brass, giving him credibility with rank-and-file troops but also fueling what some see as a chip-on-the-shoulder tone toward those who climbed higher in the hierarchy.

His insistence that generals shed weight, train daily and live by the same standards as junior officers reflects both his populist instincts and his lived sense of being closer to the warfighter than the war planner.

“I can’t really imagine a scenario where a general needs to be able to run across a battlefield,” one veteran mused. 

“It felt a bit theatery,” one junior officer said of the speech. “But he’s right that generals should have to meet the same standards they expect of the people they lead.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“The future of the military and ‘war’ department finally is starting to look better, and I’m happy all that bulls— that happened in the past was addressed, and I don’t have to deal with it,” said another. 

Hegseth also said he would lift guardrails aimed at preventing bullying and hazing and “empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second-guessing.”

“No more walking on eggshells.”

He told military officers in the room that if they didn’t like his message, “then you should do the honorable thing and resign.”

Cracker Barrel parts ways with Prophet after failed logo sparks widespread backlash

Cracker Barrel is ending its partnership with Prophet, the consulting firm behind its failed rebrand.

The chain faced intense backlash after unveiling a new logo and redesigned stores that longtime fans said stripped away what they loved most about the brand.

Cracker Barrel’s restaurants, long known for their kitschy Americana decor, were recast in a style critics called drab and soulless.

The uproar grew after the company dropped its iconic logo of an elderly man leaning on a barrel.

CRACKER BARREL ANTI-WOKE CRITICS SLAMMED AS UNINTELLIGENT BY BOSTON GLOBE FOOD CRITIC

A March press release said Prophet was hired to redesign Cracker Barrel restaurants and lead a new brand marketing campaign.

At the time, the company said, “In collaboration with Cracker Barrel, they are focused on shaping a new brand vision that will enhance market share while preserving the company’s unique heritage. This new strategy will inform brand communication, restaurant redesigns, brand marketing campaigns and a redefined employee value proposition.”

Separately, Prophet CEO Michael Dunn pledged $4 million in 2020 for the firm’s DEI initiatives, saying the company would “bring in Black team members across every level of the firm,” hire a DEI-specific recruiter and provide $4 million in pro bono work to social justice organizations, according to a 2020 blog post.

Fox News Digital found no evidence that Prophet’s DEI commitments were connected to Cracker Barrel’s rebranding.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: CRACKER BARREL CEO DODGES QUESTIONS AFTER LOGO FLIP-FLOP

In August, the brand unveiled its new logo, which dropped the illustration of a man, “Uncle Herschel,” resting his arm on top of a wooden barrel, a folksy image that has embodied the brand’s Southern hospitality for the last 56 years. Some interpreted the change as an appeal to the woke movement.

The logo change sparked backlash that wiped over $140 million off the chain’s market value at the height of the crisis as customer outrage and investor unease fueled what became the steepest losing streak in months. Shares are down over 7% year-to-date.

President Donald Trump even weighed in, calling on the chain to return to its roots.

CRACKER BARREL REMOVES MODERN DECORATIONS, RESTORES ‘OLD TIMER’ SIGNAGE AFTER INTENSE CUSTOMER CRITICISM

“Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before,” Trump wrote in an Aug. 26 post on Truth Social.

“They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity. Have a major News Conference today. Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again.”

Later that day, Cracker Barrel reversed its plans.

“We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain,” the company posted on X. 

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

In May, Cracker Barrel, beloved for its Southern comfort food, front porch rocking chairs and gift shop filled with knickknacks and old-fashioned sweets, launched an ambitious overhaul of its 660-plus restaurants, an effort that quickly backfired.

The sweeping makeover included “decluttered” dining rooms, a revamped menu and other changes aimed at updating a brand long rooted in nostalgia.

‘What the f— was that?’: Harris exploded at staff over lack of interview prep

Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed in her new book that she berated staffers for not adequately prepping her for an interview right before the election with YouTube personality Doctor Mike.

“What the f— was that?” Harris asked her senior aides after a brief Zoom interview with Dr. Mikhail “Mike” Varshavski, according to her 2024 election memoir “107 Days.”

Harris wrote that one of her staffers, Kirsten Allen, had informed her that the interview on Nov. 1, 2024, would just be a “brief thing on the RFK appointment,” referring to President Donald Trump announcing that he planned to give Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a “big role in health care” if elected. 

But Doctor Mike said in his introduction of Harris to his “Checkup” podcast that he wanted to ask about health care costs, anti-science rhetoric, barriers to primary care and women’s health. 

KAMALA HARRIS’ BOOK, MEDIA TOUR SLAMMED BY LIBERAL CRITICS AS ‘EMBARRASSING’ AND ‘UNHELPFUL’

Harris wrote of her thoughts at the time, “WTF?! This is clearly NOT ‘a brief thing on RFK.'”

“Doctor Mike was deeply knowledgeable, warmed up on all these issues, and raring to go. As I would have been, had I not just been ambushed by an unscheduled in-depth interview, with no notice, at the end of a nineteen-hour day. I slid a scribbled note across the table: The staff looked at each other. They had nothing,” the former vice president continued in the book. 

Harris said that after the interview, another one of her staffers, Brian Fallon, tried to explain the rationale behind the sit-down. 

“I raised my hand and stopped him midsentence,” she wrote. “‘Brian,’ I said through gritted teeth, ‘that was a

KAMALA HARRIS REJECTS IDEA THAT BUNGLED ‘VIEW’ INTERVIEW WAS TIPPING POINT IN CAMPAIGN

Dr. Mike reacted to the excerpt on social media.

During the interview that was published Nov. 3, Harris criticized Kennedy as Doctor Mike raised concerns over Kennedy’s potential role in a future Trump administration. 

Harris said she intended to win the election and was working hard to prevent things like Kennedy taking a position of influence. Trump went on to win the race and Kennedy now heads the Department of Health and Human Services.

Harris’ memoir has received mixed to negative reviews, even from progressive outlets, and some Democrats have panned it as divisive and unhelpful.

The former vice president has also been criticized for admitting in the book that she wanted former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to be her running mate, but she decided that he was too big a “risk” because he’s a gay man.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Harris wrote that Buttigieg “would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight White man.”

“But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, Screw it, let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk,” she added. “And I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness.”

Trump dismisses Republican mayoral hopeful as Giuliani allies support Cuomo

Rudy Giuliani’s aides and allies have thrown themselves behind Andrew Cuomo instead of Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in the race for New York mayor, according to reports.

Joe Lhota, Giuliani’s former deputy mayor and the GOP’s 2013 mayoral candidate, confirmed to the New York Post Thursday he is firmly in Cuomo’s camp.

Lhota, who later served as Cuomo’s MTA chairman and has since changed his party affiliation to Democrat, framed the choice bluntly.

“It’s a choice between a proven manager, a socialist, and a fruit loop,” Lhota told the outlet.

“Of course I’m going to be with Andrew,” Lhota added.

CUOMO OPPONENTS SLAM HIS RE-ENTRY INTO NYC MAYOR RACE, SAY CITY WANTS TO MOVE ON FROM EX GOVERNOR

Anthony Carbonetti, Giuliani’s former chief of staff and a senior adviser to his 2008 presidential campaign, echoed Lhota’s sentiment. 

While praising Sliwa as a “great New Yorker,” Carbonetti said the math simply isn’t there for him to win the race. Instead, they warned, Sliwa risks becoming a spoiler. 

“I don’t want a socialist in charge of a $116 billion city budget,” he said, criticizing Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for fare-free buses as an invitation to turn them into “mobile homeless shelters.”

CUOMO OPPONENTS SLAM HIS RE-ENTRY INTO NYC MAYOR RACE, SAY CITY WANTS TO MOVE ON FROM EX GOVERNOR

Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who served under George W. Bush and is a longtime Giuliani ally, also endorsed Cuomo in an op-ed published by the Staten Island Advance. 

“Our city should not be put at risk of irreversible damage, which it would be if Mamdani is elected,” he wrote, adding that Cuomo is “the most viable alternative.”

Mayor Eric Adams has already stunned the political world by announcing he will not seek re-election. President Donald Trump has also publicly dismissed Sliwa’s chances.

CUOMO, ADAMS TRADE SHOTS OVER WHO SHOULD DROP OUT IN RACE AGAINST MAMDANI FOR NYC MAYOR

“Look, I’m a Republican, but Curtis is not exactly prime time,” Trump said on Fox & Friends in September.

“Joe Lhota has been a Democrat since 2016. He worked for Andrew Cuomo. Big deal,” said Sliwa adviser Rob Cole.

Rudy Giuliani himself, now 81 and still a fixture in GOP politics, has yet to make an endorsement.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Polling shows Mamdani with about a 20-point lead, but under 50 percent and leaving room for an upset if Cuomo can consolidate Republican and independent voters.

‘I lost my way’: Diddy begs for freedom as alleged victim denies being trafficked

Sean “Diddy” Combs turned a page on his past life and inspired inmates through business mentorship programs over the last year while behind bars on federal sex crimes charges.

In letters of support submitted to the court before the disgraced rap mogul is sentenced Friday, Oct. 3, a fellow inmate praised Diddy for his motivational acumen, while an alleged victim denied being “sex trafficked” and forced into prostitution.

A number of alleged victims, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, came forward to voice concerns about the potential for a shorter sentence. Cassie wrote that she fled New York out of fear of “swift retribution” at the hands of Diddy or one of his associates.

A jury convicted Diddy in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper was acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

DIDDY BEGS JUDGE FOR LENIENCY, SAYS GOD MADE HIM ‘STRONGER, WISER, CLEAN, SOBER’

Inmate Ho Wen Kwok, known as Miles Guo, had “multiple conversations” with Diddy throughout his time at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. In a letter submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian, Guo wrote that he had personally witnessed Diddy go through “extreme emotional changes” throughout the case. 

“When he first arrived, he was extremely depressed and was going through dark stages,” Guo noted. “But now he has found his light again. Because he has seen what this can do to your family and although he fell off, he has climbed back to the top of the mountain again.”

Diddy allegedly asked Guo for assistance creating an “AI platform so that we can help the people.” The Bad Boy Records founder also began a business entrepreneurship course for inmates.

“We have spoken about creating programs to take the youth out of the street and help them with music, sports, and just to find their light,” Guo wrote. “Since he found his light, he has spread it and try to shine as bright as he can by sharing it with the unfortunate in MDC by starting a course named ‘Free Game With Diddy.’”

DIDDY PLANNING UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE IN COURT AHEAD OF SENTENCING FOR PROSTITUTION CHARGES

A mother of an inmate, Maribel Flaquer, told the judge that Diddy had a “life-changing” positive influence on her son Raymond. 

“Since he found his light, he has spread it and try to shine as bright as he can by sharing it with the unfortunate in MDC by starting a course named ‘Free Game With Diddy.’”

— Miles Guo

“To see my son find hope, guidance, and a new sense of responsibility has been a blessing,” Flaquer wrote. “I am so thankful to Diddy for taking the time to pour wisdom into him and for helping him realize that his life is not over – that he can still create a bright future.”

She added, “I truly believe this experience and Diddy’s mentorship have changed the trajectory of Raymond’s life. I am forever grateful for the inspiration, encouragement, and belief he has given my son.”

Virginia Huynh, who identified herself as Victim 3 in the case, wrote that she fully cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation, but felt “pressured to feel like a victim” and insisted she did not agree with the government that she had been involved in “forced prostitution.”

“I am so thankful to Diddy for taking the time to pour wisdom into him and for helping him realize that his life is not over – that he can still create a bright future.”

— Maribel Flaquer

“I was not trafficked. I did not engage in prostitution with him or others,” she noted. “That would have been my testimony if called to the stand. I was subpoenaed and fully prepared to testify and answer all questions truthfully. But I was informed by my lawyer that I would not be called to take the stand.”

Huynh told the court that Diddy hadn’t contacted her, nor made her feel uncomfortable “in any way” throughout the process. She believed he would “continue to be compliant with the court’s conditions upon release.”

“In terms of sentencing, I kindly ask that you consider releasing him back to his family,” Huynh wrote. “I understand throughout the process he has been cooperative and respectful, including turning himself in.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

“I was not trafficked. I did not engage in prostitution with him or others.”

— Victim No. 3, Virginia Huynh

Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and other witnesses who testified during the eight-week trial, submitted letters to the judge ahead of the rapper’s sentencing.

“I still have nightmares and flashbacks on a regular, everyday basis, and continue to require psychological care to cope with my past,” Ventura, who dated Diddy until 2018, wrote in the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital. 

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality. I have in fact moved my family out of the New York area and am keeping as private and quiet as I possibly can because I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial.”

Diddy’s former assistants, “Mia” and Capricorn Clark, along with the rapper’s former personal chef, each wrote letters to the judge. Ventura’s former stylist, Deonte Nash, reiterated the singer’s concerns about retribution in his letter.

“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality.”

— Cassie Ventura

In the disgraced music mogul’s own letter to the court, Diddy took “full responsibility and accountability” for his past wrongdoings. His legal team proposed a 14-month sentence ahead of his Oct. 3 hearing. The “I Need A Girl” rapper has already spent 13 months behind bars.

“This has been the hardest 2 years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself,” Diddy wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News Digital. 

The producer admitted he was free from drugs and alcohol “for the first time in 25 years,” and praised God “that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober.”

“In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them,” Diddy wrote. “I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”

Diddy “had to look in the mirror like never before” while behind bars, and admitted that “pain” became his teacher. 

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily,” he wrote. “I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”

Diddy and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, allegedly had a “freak off” at the InterContinental Hotel March 5, 2016, that turned violent. Cassie previously testified that she was attempting to leave the “freak off” after Diddy gave her a black eye.

After making it to the elevator lobby, the singer-songwriter testified, Diddy assaulted her. The rapper could be seen dragging Cassie down the hotel hallway in surveillance footage that was shown to the jury and previously released to the public in 2024.

WATCH: SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN 2016 LOS ANGELES HOTEL INCIDENT

“I can’t change the past, but I can change the future,” Diddy wrote. “I know that God put me here to transform me. Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset. I’m on a journey that will take time and hard work. I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before. 

“I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person. I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober. God makes no mistakes. I realize that this trial has received a tremendous amount of global press and Your Honor may be inclined to make an example out of me.”

He added, “I would ask Your Honor to make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance. If you allow me to go home to my family, I promise I will not let you down and I will make you proud.”

In his letter, Diddy admitted, “I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core. Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually.” 

“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”

Diddy could spend a maximum of 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count he was convicted of. The prosecution recommended 135 months (just over 11 years) for his sentencing.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fire rages after explosion at West Coast oil refinery, lighting up night sky

A massive fire erupted at an oil refinery in Southern California Thursday night.

Firefighters were dispatched around 9:35 p.m. to the Chevron refinery in El Segundo after receiving calls of smoke in the area, according to authorities.

Billowing smoke and orange flames could be seen in the sky for miles across the South Bay Area.

Fire Division Chief Casey Snow with the El Segundo Fire Department told Fox News Digital that some of the products – gasoline and diesel – were burning.

EXPLOSION ROCKS PALM SPRINGS, DAMAGING BUILDINGS AND SENDING DEBRIS INTO THE STREET

Witnesses described the fiery scene as visible for miles.

“So I saw the sky turn orange, and I was just wondering, like, what the h— happened. What is that? And then I saw the whole explosion happen. It was just like a whole mushroom cloud of fire. It just started popping up,” Miguel Morales, told Fox News Digital.

Snow said crews contained the flames to the refinery and were focusing on preventing the fire from spreading.

“It’s contained to the Chevron refinery, so there’s no hazard to the adjacent cities or residents in El Segundo or Manhattan Beach,” Snow said. “Units on scene are working to depressurize and isolate the incident and suppress the fire.”

He also noted that while it is a “waiting game” because of what’s burning, there is no threat to residents in surrounding cities at this time.

“It’s just a waiting game right now because there’s residual gasoline and diesel that’s going to burn, and there’s not much we can do about it. We’re just keeping everything around it cool and trying to depressurize it, and eventually that gasoline will burn out and we’ll be in good shape,” Snow said.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE GROWS FROM 50 ACRES TO OVER 1,000 ACRES IN JUST HOURS

He added that there are no injuries to report, which was also confirmed by a Chevron spokesperson.

“All refinery personnel and contractors have been accounted for and there are no injuries,” Allison Cook said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

She added, “No evacuation orders for area residents have been put in place by emergency response agencies monitoring the incident, and no exceedances have been detected by the facilities fence line monitoring system.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The refinery is one of the largest on the West Coast and serves as a critical hub for the region’s fuel supply. It spans about 2 square miles and processes crude oil into jet fuel, gasoline and other petroleum products.

The facility employs more than 1,000 Chevron employees and another 1,000 contractors work at the site daily, underscoring its role as a major employer in the South Bay Area.

San Francisco’s backup quarterback shines as 49ers edge past Rams in dramatic fashion

The San Francisco 49ers took home a crucial 26-23 NFC West victory on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams in overtime.

The 49ers defense came up huge to stop the Rams on fourth down in a pivotal moment in overtime to win the game. San Francisco also received an incredible performance from Mac Jones and the rest of the bruised and battered roster.

Jones came in for Brock Purdy once again. He finished 33-of-49 with 342 passing yards and two touchdown passes as his resurgence continued. He started the game with a touchdown pass to Jake Tonges and followed it up with a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Los Angeles fought back from a 20-7 deficit in the third quarter. But were only able to tie the game thanks to a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Kyren Williams.

The 49ers brought on kicker Eddy Pineiro for a 59-yard field goal attempt with 2:57 left in the game and he nailed it to take the lead.

San Francisco got the ball back on a costly Rams fumble by Williams. The 49ers barely had any room to breathe and failed to get another first down to ice the game. Instead, the 49ers punted the ball away and gave the Rams decent field position.

Williams was able to redeem himself to get the team into scoring position and allowed Joshua Karty to hit a game-tying 48-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

FOX ONE, ESPN BUNDLE BRINGS MASSIVE SPORTS CONTENT TO FANS

The 49ers moved up the field in the overtime period and got close enough for Pineiro to attempt a field goal. He hit the 41-yarder off the post and through the uprights with 5:51 to go in overtime.

Then, it was Stafford’s time. On the second play, Stafford took the snap, spun around and launched the ball to Tutu Atwell for a 38-yard completion. The Rams got a fresh set of downs, but the 49ers defense locked in and forced a fourth-down attempt.

Stafford handed the ball to Williams, but he was stopped short of the first down. The 49ers sealed the win.

The veteran quarterback was 30-of-47 with 389 passing yards, and three touchdown passes. Puka Nacua had 10 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Williams had two touchdown caches on the night.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The 49ers improved to 4-1 on the year. The Rams fell to 3-2.