C.J. Interrogates Jamie Hotchkiss on Voucher Leak
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. calls Jamie Hotchkiss into her office under pretense, setting up her interrogation about the leak.
Jamie Hotchkiss angrily confronts his frustration about a damaging quote, signaling his high stake in the voucher discussions and readiness to defend his integrity.
C.J. directly probes Jamie's possible involvement in the leak about vouchers, using flattery to soften her interrogation.
Jamie Hotchkiss bluntly denies being the leak, challenges C.J.'s approach, and exits angrily, leaving unresolved tension.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Feigned casualness masking probing intensity, shifting to raw exasperation at the endless grind
C.J. opens with casual greeting to ease Jamie in, methodically probes his Roosevelt Room involvement and Terry Cashin contacts, offers sincere compliment on his work to build rapport, then vents exasperation to Carol about the grueling interrogation lineup, slamming the door on futile suspicion.
- • Pinpoint the voucher leak source to contain scandal damage
- • Preserve staff morale through targeted compliments amid suspicion
- • Every insider is a potential threat in leak hunts
- • Loyalty demands tough questions but fairness in praise
Calmly detached professionalism undergirding quiet empathy for C.J.'s strain
Carol efficiently summons and ushers Jamie into the office at C.J.'s cue, delivers deadpan quip about 1,138 remaining interrogations upon C.J.'s frustration, and swiftly prepares for the next suspect, maintaining operational rhythm amid the leak-hunt frenzy.
- • Facilitate seamless progression of suspect interrogations
- • Lighten C.J.'s burden with wry humor during exhaustion
- • Bureaucratic grind requires unflappable support
- • Humor sustains resolve in crisis sieges
Boiling indignation at accusation fused with righteous fury over undermined efforts
Jamie enters visibly agitated about the leaked quote derailing his nine-month voucher project, fields C.J.'s questions with mounting defensiveness, flatly denies leaking or knowing the culprit, vows loyalty by refusing to name anyone, and storms out slamming the emphasis on betrayal's unacceptability.
- • Vindicate personal innocence and team's labor
- • Uphold colleague solidarity against internal witch hunts
- • Betraying peers destroys the team's core strength
- • Nine months of grind demands unassailable respect
Unnamed threat looming in absentia
Terry Cashin is invoked by C.J. as the specific Baltimore Sun reporter Jamie may have contacted in the last four days, positioning him as the suspected external conduit for the leaked voucher details in this pointed line of inquiry.
- • Pursue scoops on White House vouchers
- • Administration secrets fuel public-interest journalism
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Roosevelt Room is directly referenced by C.J. as the site of last Thursday's pivotal voucher strategy meeting where Jamie confirms his longstanding attendance, framing it as ground zero for the leaked quote and intensifying suspicion on internal attendees amid White House paranoia.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"HOTCHKISS: "You're asking me if I'm the leak?""
"C.J.: "I was going to be a little more circumspect.""
"HOTCHKISS: "Listen up. I'm not the leak. I don't know who the leak is. If I did, I wouldn't tell you. Any other questions?""