Abby Whelan

Living... alone in Washington DC.

Profession... investigator for Olivia Pope & Associates. Outspoken and a tad judgmental, Abby is the only person in the group who is not afraid to challenge Olivia. If she had a choice, she would be much more selective about what clients OPA takes on, but her loyalty to Olivia keeps her in line with the rest. As she tells Olivia, “I would gladly follow you over a cliff.”

Interests... baking, owning guns, and championing the rights of the underdog.

Relationship Status... divorced and slowly testing the waters. Abby was previously married to Charles Putney, the son of the former governor of Virginia. The arranged political marriage ended when Charles physically abused Abby, forcing her to move in with Olivia and go into hiding from Charles. While at OPA, Abby develops a crush on Stephen Finch before setting her sights on Assistant U.S Attorney David Rosen.

Challenge... maintaining her loyalty to Olivia. As Abby explains, she and Olivia go far back: “When Charles fractured three of my ribs and broke my jaw and threw me out into the snow in my nightgown, Olivia Pope took a tire iron and broke his knee cap and got me the best divorce attorney in the state and got me out of that marriage.” But when Olivia's demons catch up with her and she begins to change, Abby is unsure if she can stand besides the woman who once saved her life.  

Personality... sassy, opinionated, and prone to nagging. Olivia often has to remind Abby that OPA does not judge the clients that come in for help, but Abby's past and demeanor make it hard for her to stop. Unafraid to speak her mind – whether or not it's warranted – Abby sometimes becomes Olivia's moral compass, reminding her that there is much more to what they do than winning, making money, or simply acquiescing to the client. Even more, Abby's persistence ensures that she can always wear down others if need be, making her a great investigator.