: The police coordinate a sting operation to arrest the blackmailer, Dennis di Palma (played by Raúl Esparza), as he accepts a check from Carville.

Season 20, Episode 12, titled " Blackmail ," originally aired on January 15, 2010. The episode centers on the investigation into the death of a journalist and a subsequent high-stakes extortion plot involving a famous talk show host. Episode Summary

: The investigation reveals the victim was having an affair with Vanessa Carville (played by Samantha Bee), a prominent daytime talk show host.

: Carville admits to DA Jack McCoy that she is being blackmailed for $3 million to keep her workplace affairs with women a secret.

: Following the arrest, Carville publicly confesses to her affairs on her show, while the defense argues there is a deeper story behind the victim's death. Key Cast & Guest Stars

: Some viewers consider it a weaker entry in an otherwise strong final season of the original run, though it is often cited by fans for Raúl Esparza's "bad guy" performance before his hero turn on SVU . "Law & Order" Blackmail (TV Episode 2010) - IMDb