The West Wing
Character
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Martin Connelly

impassioned persistent urgent dedicated frustrated
Martin Connelly storms the White House bullpen, briefcase clenched in white-knuckled grip, cornering Josh Lyman with raw urgency. As Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division, he unleashes a torrent of desperation: the Justice Department's epic fraud war against Big Tobacco teeters on financial collapse, outspent ten-to-one by corporate behemoths peddling death disguised as cigarettes. Passion ignites his pleas for emergency infusion—thirty million dollars to sustain righteous pursuit—rippling shockwaves through senior staff as Josh relays the crisis to Leo, clashing idealism against congressional stonewalling in Bartlet's besieged orbit.
6 appearances

Martin Connelly's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

6 moments
S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Donna's Bullpen Greeting Interrupted by Satellite Prank Panic

Calm and accommodating despite urgent underlying mission

Stands waiting patiently in his coat as Donna greets him courteously and explains Josh's delay with Leo, remaining stoic amid surrounding bullpen chaos and prank eruption.

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Josh Confronted by DOJ's Tobacco Fraud Funding Crisis

Impassioned urgency veiling defensive frustration

Stands promptly in lobby at Josh's approach, follows to office, sits clutching briefcase, delivers fervent monologue on lawsuit costs, transfers blocked by House HR-260, and tobacco fraud—departs gratefully after Josh …

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Donna's Frantic NASA Fax Interruption

Anticipatory desperation

Waits in lobby as Josh approaches him post-Donna's call, positioned as next crisis vector amid the satellite diversion.

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Staff Press Leo for Covert MS Polling Amid Paranoia

approached by Josh in the lobby

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Leo Confesses Zoey Slip to Abbey as Josh Presses Tobacco Funding Amid Crisis

Implied desperation fueling prosecutorial zeal.

Martin Connelly invoked by Josh as the authoritative source relaying the Civil Division's dire funding shortage for the tobacco suit, underscoring the crisis's urgency without physical presence.

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Leo Dismisses Josh's Tobacco Funding Push Amid Abbey's Return

Desperate urgency fueling pleas for financial lifeline.

Invoked by Josh as Assistant Attorney General in Civil Division whose desperate report of being out of money for the tobacco fraud suit ignites the funding pitch, underscoring prosecutorial desperation …

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Affiliation

United States Army (U.S. Army)