Karen Larsen Named — Plan to Confront the Leaker
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh identifies Karen Larsen as the likely leaker, detailing her past connection to Vice-President Hoynes and her reassignment to Personnel.
Toby interrogates the extent of Karen Larsen's clearance, with Sam confirming it's sufficient for her to be the source of the leak.
Toby assigns Sam to confront Karen Larsen about the leak after returning from the Hill.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Controlled and focused; outwardly steady while privately mobilizing to contain reputational risk.
Toby interrogates the practical implications of Josh's accusation — asking specifically about Karen's clearance — then converts the information into command: instructing Sam to confront her. He moves from suspicion to procedural containment.
- • Determine whether the accused had the technical access to leak sensitive files.
- • Ensure the team takes swift, discreet action to neutralize the threat to the administration's standing.
- • Security and message discipline require confronting internal breaches quickly.
- • Proactive, internal policing is necessary to protect senior staff and the administration's agenda.
Implied exposure and defenselessness—she becomes the object of scrutiny without representation in the room.
Karen is not present but is named and placed at the center of the accusation: her past work for the Vice‑President and her reassignment to Personnel are presented as circumstantial evidence tying her to the leak.
- • (Inferred) Protect personal position and reputation if confronted.
- • (Inferred) Clarify the nature of any contact with the Vice‑President's office to dispel suspicion.
- • (Inferred) Past affiliation with a powerful office can be misread as motive for wrongdoing.
- • (Inferred) Being moved to Personnel was a neutral administrative fix rather than punitive, though others interpret it as distancing.
Calmly certain — pragmatic and slightly triumphant at having converted rumor into a usable lead.
Josh identifies Karen Larsen as the likely leaker, giving context about her campaign history and reassignment; he connects personnel movement to political proximity and offers the working accusation that focuses the team's response.
- • Pinpoint the source of the personnel leak quickly.
- • Move the team toward an actionable response to protect senior staff and the administration.
- • Leaks often originate where personal loyalty and access intersect.
- • A prior working relationship with the Vice‑President raises motive and opportunity for leaking sensitive information.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Oval Office functions as the decision locus where senior aides gather to triage a personnel leak. Its ceremonial gravity amplifies the stakes: a private accusation uttered in the President's room reads like action taken in the name of the institution.
The White House Personnel Office is referenced as Karen Larsen's current work location and the practical locus of the access that would enable a personnel leak. It shifts from mundane administrative space into a potential source of institutional vulnerability.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"JOSH: Her name is Karen Larsen. She worked on the Vice-President's campaign and in his public affairs office. Aides thought she was getting a bit of a crush on Hoynes, so they moved her further away."
"TOBY: Where?"
"SAM: Glad you asked."
"TOBY: Personnel?"
"SAM: High enough."
"JOSH: I think we've found our man."
"TOBY: Sam, have a talk with her when you get back from the Hill."
"SAM: Yeah."