As Gideon investigates Amanda Tanner's past, a series of events from the past reveal the contentious primary race between Fitzgerald Grant and Sally Langston, Olivia's first meeting with Grant on the campaign trail and the formation of the Pope & Associates team.

Olivia hires Quinn Perkins; On Quinn Perkins' first day, she is given the task of of dealing with a woman's accusation against the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Pope & Associates must prove a decorated war veteran innocent of murder.

When a millionaire's son is accused of rape, Pope & Associates take the case and find it difficult to change public perception. Olivia must also deal with Amanda Tanner's first request as a client: a meeting with the President.

After a commercial plane crashes, taking the lives of all onboard, Olivia Pope and her "gladiators-in-suits" must defend the pilot from media and airline accusations; meanwhile, when Amanda Tanner goes missing, Huck calls upon his dark past to find her whereabouts, and Fitz seeks the help of the Vice President in order to pass key legislation despite their icy relationship.

After the Amanda Tanner case takes a shocking turn, one-time friends Olivia and Cyrus take heated, opposing viewpoints, and Cyrus tries to help in investigating the personal lives of Olivia and her associates. Meanwhile Olivia and her team help a dictator locate his wife and children who have been allegedly kidnapped, and Quinn goes out with a reporter seeking information.

When Quinn finds herself in a tragic and compromising position, Olivia and the team rush to her side; all the while, a reluctant Cyrus must turn to Olivia when Billy Chambers makes an announcement that shakes Fitz's presidency to its core.

Olivia and her team must keep a DC madam's client list under wraps when she comes under investigation, leading to the firm protecting many of DC's most influential. Meanwhile, Quinn must continue to deal with the President's former intern.