‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 28 Premiere Recap: A Gang Rape Echoing the Cornell 7 Case https://t.co/RTkpUko5Ew
— Variety (@Variety) October 9, 2026
The episode was written three months ago. The showrunner says: “”Back in May, the New York State Legislature attempted to amend their rape law. As currently written, the law does not expressly protect intoxicated victims — only those who have been administered an intoxicating substance without their consent, or are ‘physically helpless,’ widely interpreted to mean unconscious,” Showrunner Michele Fazekas said. “
For anyone who does not know, the law that is protecting the men involved, is the law that says if a person voluntarily drank or used drugs, they cannot claim they did not give consent.
From Mariska: “This is a voluntary intoxication loophole. It exists in 19 states. Legislators had the opportunity to address it and failed. Now is the time to let them know: These outdated laws must change.”
It’s so good that they address this because the laws MUST change or people who assault can continue to walk free.
