A Brooklyn judge cut a Texas scammer a break, giving the man 18 months for trying to defraud George Santos — and blasted the former congressman’s “cowardice” for not showing up in person Wednesday to give a victim statement.

A Texas man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently promising to get the criminal case against former Rep. George Santos dismissed was sentenced to a year-and-a-half in federal prison on Wednesday. Prosecutors say Hector Medina started to send predatory messages to Santos in 2023,

Here are the 2025 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, including George Clinton, Mike Love and three members of The Doobie Brothers.

Parliament-Funkadelic founder George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers; country hitmaker (and Variety‘s 2023 Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year) Ashley Gorley;