Ep 21. Liberties

Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her partner, Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), are called to investigate a case involving a young woman who claims she was raped by her boss. The detectives are initially skeptical, as the woman seems to be hiding something, but they soon discover that she is telling the truth.

The victim is a young, idealistic intern named Kathleen (guest star Leighton Meester), who has been working for a prestigious law firm in Manhattan. After a night out with her boss, Jonathan Dalton (guest starTony Hale), Kathleen wakes up in his bed, disoriented and with no memory of what happened. She is horrified to discover that Dalton has taken explicit photographs of her while she was unconscious.

Despite her fear and shame, Kathleen decides to report Dalton to the police. But when the detectives question him, he denies any wrongdoing and claims that Kathleen consented to everything that happened. He is even able to produce a signed waiver that Kathleen apparently signed, giving him permission to take the photographs.

The detectives don't believe Dalton's version of events, but they have no way to prove that he's lying. That is, until Kathleen's roommate comes forward with a startling revelation: she overheard Dalton on the phone, bragging about what he had done to Kathleen and laughing about how he would get away with it.

With this new evidence, the detectives are able to build a case against Dalton and bring him to trial. But they soon discover that their victory may be short-lived, as Dalton's lawyer (guest star Michaela McManus) is a savvy legal strategist who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.

As the trial unfolds, the detectives and the prosecutor (guest star Tamara Tunie) face numerous setbacks and challenges. But they refuse to give up, knowing that Kathleen's future and their own sense of justice are at stake.

In the end, the trial takes a surprising twist, and the detectives are forced to confront their own assumptions and biases. But through it all, they remain committed to the truth and to protecting the rights and dignity of all victims, no matter how difficult the road may be.