Plot summary
Olivia confronts Mellie on her decision to name Jake as her new Chief of Staff; Mellie tells Olivia that she must step down and resign, or be publicly terminated. QPA gains a new client, a government employee being accused of treason with Russian entities. The crew discovers he is in an affair with Jake's wife upon Olivia leaking the information to the media. Cyrus gives Mellie and Jake a way to frame Olivia and spin her media story, but backstabs them when he provides Olivia with the documents proving the President's media coverup—offering her the papers to bring down the Mellie presidency during her scheduled resignation announcement, but instead brings this information to light with Mellie as she is preparing for the first Presidential Mammogram.
Quinn bargains with Rowan for her freedom in exchange for not going after Olivia. Olivia returns home where Quinn shows herself and holds her at gunpoint. Olivia warns Quinn of snipers and continuing to not believe the threat, Olivia is shot in the arm attempting to protect Quinn. Olivia gives her speech at a press conference, initially planning to use the files from Cyrus but instead giving her resignation. Charlie, Quinn, Robin, Huck and Abby reunite.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Scandal season 7. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.