Kingmaker

"Kingmaker"
←	L&O, Episode 16.20	→
Production number: 16018 First aired: 3 May 2006
	th of 456 produced in L&O
←	th of 456 released in L&O	→
	th of 1271 released in all
Written By David Slack Directed By Don Scardino

Plot[]

After her identity is revealed in a newspaper article by a political figure, an undercover police officer is suddenly murdered and the detectives will have to go through extreme measures to locate the person responsible for the crime. Eventually the detectives track down the killer and he shoots an ESU officer (his armor catches it and saves him) before being shot by Fontana who doesn't kill him. Green and Fontana question the killer and while he admits to the crime, he reveals he found out what she was in the newspaper. Eventually its revealed that Eric Lund revealed this fact to the press as a political tactic. Originally McCoy is reluctant to have him arrested, but after Lund basically threatens him, he has him charged with manslaughter. Evidence is found that apparently clears Lund's name and he uses it to try to ruin McCoy's reputation. Eventually its revealed that the hard drive was tampered with under Lund's influence to clear his name with threats of ruining someone's career. McCoy adds charges in addition to the manslaughter charge and offers 20 years in prison with the only way he could get less time by talking about his Congressman Prescott's possible illegal activities. Eventually the congressman pushes him to take a plea of 15 years in return for McCoy not pursuing him which he agrees to.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

• Dennis Farina as Detective Joe Fontana
• Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Annie Parisse as A.D.A. Alexandra Borgia
• Fred Dalton Thompson as D.A. Arthur Branch

Recurring cast[]

• Robert Hogan as Judge Hugo Bright
• Dylan Baker as Defense Attorney Sanford Remz
• John Cariani as C.S.U. Technician Julian Beck
• Richard Hirschfeld as Assistant M.E. Brody
• Selenis Leyva as Detective Mariluz Rivera

Guest cast[]

• Garret Dillahunt as Eric Lund
• Sam Freed as Tom Baker
• John McMartin as Ron Grayson
• Joe Maruzzo as Lieutenant Sullivan
• Uliks Fehmiu as Ratko Petrovich
• Sharon Hope as Judge Coretta Hayes
• David Forsyth as Congressman Jonathan Prescott
• Kate Udall as Veronica Drake
• Adam Nee as Jason Higgs
• Joel Van Liew as George Mills
• Aya Cash as Janine Lesko
• Michael De Nola as Kreshnik Pernaska
• Charlie Pollock as Trial Prep Assistant
• Ellie Dvorkin as Production Assistant
• Tim Gallin as ESU Marquez
• Terence Archie as Officer Cass
• John E. Mack as Officer McDow
• Charlie Brady as Uniform Cop
• Tim Miller as Court Clerk
• Schuster Vance as Secret Service Agent (uncredited)

References[]

• Albanian mob
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Homeland Security
• IAB
• INS
• Kosovo
• London
• Serbia
• Dana Baker/Nayada Kraya (victim)
• Peter Gordon

Quotes[]

Jonathan Prescott: Who do you think you are, McCoy? And just who the hell do you think you're talking to?

Jack McCoy: Someone who lets other people do their dirty work.

Background information and notes[]

Episode scene cards[]