Law & Order: SVU Season 23 Episode 1 attacks the politics of justice head-on.

Benson's car is run off the road while she is en route to an important meeting at the DA's office regarding Congressman Howard's involvement in a sex trafficking ring. She is fine other than a broken ankle and refuses to go home because she needs to try to get this case closed.

Meanwhile, Chief McGrath wants to cut Deputy Chief Garland out of the case and keeps saying that Garland is too close to Macado, the philanthropist turned predator who was recently arrested. He hires his own undercover agent for a fundraiser Howard is at and won't allow Benson to tell Garland or anyone else. SVU is thus shocked when one of the men they arrest in a sting operation designed to get Howard is a police officer.

Later, McGrath has a press conference that he also cuts Garland out of. Garland is initially upset but later comes to see Benson and acts like he thinks it was a misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, Howard believes he is above the law and wants to run for President. He threatens Benson and Carisi's jobs, angering his own lawyer. Carisi thinks he has this case in the bag, but then witnesses begin turning up dead...

To find out what happens, watch Law & Order: SVU Season 23 Episode 1 online.