Todd Akin Immortalized in “Law and Order: SVU” episode

Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock died (politically) last November, but their fifteen minutes of fame aren’t quite over yet.  Last night’s episode of Law & Order:  SVU featured an “expert” — and later discredited — defense witness in a rape trial who invoked the “legitimate rape” argument.

It was a very powerful episode.  (Here are some links.)

This isn’t the first time a Law & Order:  SVU episode has been based on a current political issue.  A year or two ago they had an episode featuring an Iraq war contractor who had raped a female soldier.

Law & Order:  SVU and CSI:  New York both had episodes patterned after those two Pennsylvania “Kids For Cash” judges.

If you used to watch The Shield, you’ll recognize the rapist from last night’s Law & Order:  SVU episode.  I don’t remember the actor’s name; he was one of the detectives on The Shield but not a major character.  He was a total sleazebag who ended up filing a phony workers’ comp claim and getting a generous retirement/disability package.

Either he’s an evil bastard in real life, or he’s a hell of an actor.

UPDATE:  I finally found it.  The rapist was played by David Marciano, who previously played Detective Steve Billings on The Shield.