Exclusive: Photos from "Scandal"

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Scenes from "Scandal"

Kerry Washington stars as Olivia Pope, an ambitious public relations consultant who specializes in cleaning up political scandals.

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Washington’s character is partly based on former George H.W. Bush administration press aide, Judy Smith, who is African-American.

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Though she excels in her professional life, Pope’s (Kerry Washington) personal life is in shambles.

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Columbus Short plays Harrison Wright, a litigator in Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) firm.

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Pope (Kerry Washington) is known as a tough-talking Washington D.C.-insider.

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Pope (Kerry Washington) meets with a politician looking to clean up his image after a scandal.