Law & Order “Free Speech ” Recap, Review, Discussion

With an episode titled “Free Speech”, one had to know that it would involve an extremist, conspiracy-loving  right-wing nut job (you know the type) who likes to bad-mouth the “libs” in order to get their fellow extremist, conspiracy-loving  right-wing nut jobs whipped into a hateful frenzy.  It’s an episode that will likely put some viewers - extremist right-wingers to be specific -  into their own crazed frenzy, because it exposes their hate.  

It was a compelling episode which focused on Jordan Reed, a man who uses hate as a business model.  Reed is an ultra-right wing, venom-spewing radio host who also belongs to a  chat room full of conspiracy theorists.  At one point he refers to his followers as “morons.”  He uses – and monetizes - their gullibility and hatred.    He manages to push the right buttons with one of them by using fake photos and false rumors;  that person eventually kills a man who is simply trying to open a dialog for positive change.    Reed’s lawyer thought Price was trying to criminalize free speech, but all Price was doing was holding Reed accountable for his role in a murder. It was satisfying seeing Jordan Reed get his comeuppance, sadly,  his “moron” followers likely won’t be able to understand why Reed was found guilty. 

This episode may be fiction but we know all too well that there are media outlets - and their talking heads - who make money by spouting their “faux”, or fake,  news. One can only hope that someday we could rid our airwaves and social media of those people who spread blatant lies and disguise them as opinion. The best way to do this is not by banning them, but by not "feeding" them with attention or allowing them to monetize it.  It’s also surprising how many people don’t understand the First Amendment.  Freedom of speech does have limits, and in this case, Jordan Reed found out what one of those limits was...the hard way.

A side note - it's always great to see Law & Order "repeat offender" Dylan Baker!

Here is the recap:

Congressional candidate Derek Hoyt appears on a radio talk show, hosted by right-wing Jordan Reed.  Reed tries to inflame Hoyt,  who stays calm and wants to talk about the issues in a serious way.  Jordan asks if Hoyt thinks the leaders of the democratic party are involved in the sexual exploitation of underage boys and girls.  Derek is not pleased with the Q-Anon crap, and the way the interview going,  and tells Jordan to go to hell and he leaves.  

Shortly after,  two guys talking about how people can spew hate on-line watch in horror as Derek Hoyt  is killed, run over by a bus. 

Soon after, Bernard and Cosgrove are on the scene and an officer tells them this wasn’t an accident,  explaining witnesses said Derek was pushed into the path of the bus.  Bernard speaks to one witness who describes the perp.  Cosgrove has the bus cam footage showing Jordan flying into the path of the bus. 

Later, the detectives speak with Derek’s wife who explains he was running for Congress.  She says Derek got into an argument a few weeks ago with a guy while he was at dinner.

The detectives speak with that man, Chris Wood,  who said he was trying to buy his firm and was angry Derek didn’t give him a chance for a counter offer.  He met him for coffee a few days ago and pledged a million dollars to his campaign.  There was a guy following them and says he was white, about 50, wearing a Phillies hat. 

Back at the 2-7, Detective Dani Vertiz sees the man on a street cam and they can see information on the jacket showing he may be a cop at the 19th.   She is told to send this over to the 19th to see if someone knows him.  Later, Bernard and Cosgrove speak with that man – a private investigator -   and says he was hired to find some dirt but he came up squeaky clean.  They ask who hired him.

At Audix Media at 655 Columbus Circle on Tuesday, March 15, the detectives speak with Jordan Reed about hiring the PI.  He tries to make a joke about AOC which falls flat.   He said he heard rumors and refuses to comment on them.  Bernard says Jordan’s mission is to cultivate hate, but Jordan says he runs a media business and gives people what they want. He makes the usual right-wing talking points, saying it matters what sells.  He says destroying  Hoyt would be a home run. 

Back at the 2-7, the detective confer with Dixon on what they have. which isn’t much. Vertiz says that computer crimes did a deep dive on Derek’s electronic devices  and  found deleted emails filled with veiled death threats.  There were also  photos of him with young girls. 

The detectives show the photos to Derek’s wife and she knows one of the girls, she goes to their daughter’s school.

Bernard and Cosgrove speak with the fathers of two of the girls and eventually discover that the photos of the girls, taken from social media, have been photoshopped into images of Derek.

Back at the 2-7, Bernard tells Dixon that tech confirmed the photos are  faked.  Vertiz finds a crazy on-line forum talking conspiracy theories and one guy named “Warri0r_p0se” stands out 

which says “Hoyt will never touch another young girl.”  He posted another one an hour after the murder saying Hoyt is no longer a problem.   The posts were traced to a coffee shop.  Dixon tells them to talk to the manager to see if they have video and find out who sent those posts. 

Later, Bernard and Cosgrove speak with Manny Lopez and confront him about the bus incident and have him come to the precinct,  In the interrogation room, they show Manny a video of him near the crime scene right before Hoyt was killed.   He says Derek is part of a liberal sex-crazed cabal ruining this country, and who planned to kidnap a young kid. He did what he had to do. They arrest him. 

At arraignment, the judge sets bail at $2 million and the judge says some self-proclaimed patriots started a go fund me page for Manny which has raised $900,000. Manny looks pleased. The bail amount stands. 

Maroun enters Price’s office and says this chat room Manny was part of talked about Hoyt carrying out a kidnap plot. Someone had asked if there is anyone out there brave enough to take action and protect the country against the corrupt liberal cabal.  She thinks the person knew his audience and was looking to rile up specific people who believe the ridiculous lines. He also posted the phony photos.  They discuss than Manny will claim justification that he killed Hoyt to save the young girl, even though that was faked.  They think the defense will try to make this about politics, not law.  Price wants the detectives to track down the IP address of this ringleader and why he was so invested in destroying Hoyt and if he is connected to this murder. 

Bernard and Cosgrove enter Audix Media and Jordan is on air. Jordan talks to his listeners and tries to bad mouth the police and Bernard tells him to get off the damn mike, they have things to discuss.   They start to argue and Jordan orders them to get out. 

Back at the DA’s office, Price and Maroun speak with Jack McCoy and bring him up to date.   They found lots of phone calls between Jordan Reed and Manny before and on the day of the murder. They may have been discussing Hoyt’s imminent demise. Jack asks if they want to trade up and hold Reed accountable and Price nods.  Jack tells them to talk to the defendant and see if he will cooperate. 

Price and Maroun speak with Manny and his lawyer and Manny makes it sound like he never spoke with Jordan about killing Hoyt.  They explain the fake photos and Manny finally says that Jordan said Hoyt was dangerous and a threat to the country and the wave was coming and people needed to take bold an decisive action.  Jordan kept using the word “neutralize” but Manny knew what he meant.  Jordan also said his company rewards true patriots, those willing to take action. 

At a later date, Jordan Reed is being arraigned in court for murder in the first degree.  His lawyer, Sanford Rems, says he is not guilty.  Maroun asks for remand.  Rems argues for Jordan but the judge sets bail at $1 million. 

Outside the courthouse, protesters support Reed and Price and Maroun notice the hard-core following. 

At Supreme Court Trial Part 44 on Monday, March 28,  Price makes his opening statement and explains that Jordan created the false narrative about Hoyt with the fake photos.  He says creating mythical enemies is part of Jordan’s business model and all he cares about is money, monetizing the venom.  He explains Manny was offered a financial reward to kill Derek.  He explains Manny will testify tomorrow. 

Rems makes his counter opening statement and says the answer is so simple and clear – Manny pushed him in front of the bus, not Jordan.  He thinks they are trying to criminalize free speech.  He places the blame on only Manny.  After the judge adjourns, Price and Maroun get a message and Price tells Maroun to notify the judge, and he will head down to the hospital.

At the hospital, Price hears that Manny hanged himself in his cell and is dead.  Price is stunned. 

Later, Price and Rems speak with the judge about this turn of events and that Manny was critical to Price’s case, he was the only piece of evidence. Rems wants the case dismissed and Price has no issue with dismissing the murder for hire. But Price argues that want to proceed with murder 2, as Reed showed depraved indifference to human life as Reed inflamed Manny to kill.  Rems says chat room posts and social media posts are protected under the First Amendment and Reed can say whatever he wants.  But Price counters that Reed yelled fire  in a crowded theater and Hoyt got trampled to death.  The judge agrees with Price and there is a case. 

At Supreme Court Trial Part 44 on Thursday, March 31,  a man testifies about the fake photos and posted to the Rogue Wave site. The IP address where the photos were posted from, and the photos of the comments on the Rogue Wave site, were the same – it was Jordan Reed’s office computer.  Under cross, the man must admit he has no proof that Reed himself created the photos or posted the statements on Rogue Wave. 

Afterwards, in his office, Price and Maroun strategize about how to show depraved indifference.  Maroun thinks if they can  convict someone for murder for spreading lies on the internet  it could be groundbreaking, like convicting Trump for the murders that took place on January 6th.  Maroun says they need to give the jury more, and Price suggests they start with some of the recent rallies that Reed  conducted. 

At Goodwin Auto Body at 3078 Ditmas Avenue on Thursday, March 31,  Bernard and Cosgrove speak with Austin Pond who stood next to Reed at one of the rallies and said they talked about someone from the Knicks being benched.

Back at Price’s office, Maroun explains to Price that Pond says they talked about everything but Hoyt or committing acts of violence.  Price says this is bad and they know this is exculpatory too.  Price is less than thrilled it but knows they must notify the defense – and then they need to get back to work and figure out how to win this damn case. 

Back in court, Pond is on the stand for the defense, who asks  how the rally where Pond was recorded with Jordan and Manny. He said they discussed how screwed up the country is and how the liberals hate them. He said they should be allow to express their views without being attacked.   An act of violence was never discussed.  Under cross, Price brings up that Pond wasn’t with those two the whole night and they could have discussed something else.  It was also not the only political event Reed sponsored.  Pond admits he heard about other rallies via word of mouth and texts. 

Afterward, as Price and Maroun leave the courthouse, Price tells her to get a subpoena for Pond’s phone so they can review his texts and do a deep dive into every rally Reed has attended for the past few months. He adds for the detectives to scrub the surveillance footage – they need a clip, quote or sound bite that reveals who Jordan Reed really is. Maroun argues the prosecution has rested 2 days ago and Price reminds her they can use it on cross.  Maroun thinks Reed won’t testify but Price thinks that the biggest media whore in America won’t pass up an opportunity to wrap himself in the First Amendment and provide free content for his media company.  He tells her to get the subpoena and start scrubbing. 

In Supreme Court Trial Part 44 on Tuesday, April 5,  Jordan Reed is on the stand and says he’s never participated in any on-line discussions, saying  an employee could have used his computer.  Under cross,  Price presses him on those issues and Jordan seems to imply his office is always open and his computer password isn’t hidden.  He starts spouting his conservative rhetoric.  Price asks if his goal was to cultivate a peaceful exchange of ideas, and Reed says yes. He also says he would never want acts of  violence, it’s the last thing he’d ever want.  Price mentions he wants to show a video clip of Reed talking to an employee at a rally, and Rems objects, saying he hasn’t seen the video yet.  Price explains there was no reason to share it, they couldn’t anticipate the defendant would testify and open the door with his statement about cultivating a peaceful exchange of ideas. Price explains it will directly contradict what Reed just said, so the judge allows it.  The video is played and Reed is calling the attendees idiots and says if they could just find a way to activate these morons to actually attack or even kill some liberal they would be the number one media company in the world.  Reed looks pleased but Rems is stunned and frustrated.  Price explains a waiter took that video at a recent rally and Reed says he was kidding, joking.  Price says that is a hell of a thing to joke about.   Price ends his questioning and Rems has nothing else. Reed looks beaten.

Later, the jury returns a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree.  Reed reacts badly and some members of the gallery get loud.  As Reed is being taken away, he says this isn’t over and true patriots will have the last say.   He yells they will not stand for this act of tyranny.  Maroun tells Price it’s a hell of a verdict and will  make  people think twice before tweeting venom.  Price is not so sure, and looking at his phone, says one person tweeted him a particularly venomous death  threat.  As they leave the courtroom we fade to black.