ABC’s “Designated Survivor” went into crisis management mode after Vice President Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zukerman) was shot dead by his wife Beth (Lara Jean Chorostecki) before she pulled the trigger on herself.

President Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) and Press Secretary Seth Wright (Kal Penn) did their best to suppress speculation, especially when a journalist named Abe Leonard (Rob Morrow) started asking questions about whether MacLeish knew Catalan (George Tchortov) and therefore ordered him to be killed.

READ: Kiefer Sutherland didn’t want to return to TV after “24.”

In the end, Kirkman chose to tell only some of the truth to the America people. He the public that MacLeish did give the order to kill Catalan and he respects his decision even if he didn’t agree with it. However, he did spin a tale of marriage problems between Peter and Beth which led to her shooting her husband.

What will happen next week on “Designated Survivor”?

According to the official synopsis of Season 1, episode 14, the President will turn to an unlikely ally for help when turmoil grips an African country.

Meanwhile, former Special Advisor Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci) will settle into her new role as Acting Chief of Staff. After Aaron Shore (Adan Canto) admitted to leaking the news that MacLeish order to kill Catalan, Kirkman suggested that he take some time off. He appointed Emily in his stead.

The synopsis teases that Aaron will make a difficult choice. President Richmond’s former Chief of Staff, Charles Langdon (Peter Outerbridge), approached Aaron when he was returning home. What does he want? The promo shows the FBI catching and interrogating Landgon. Kirkman faces him and confronts him with the all-important question, “Who wanted me as the designated survivor and why?”

Langdon points out in the preview that Kirkman may not like the answer to that question.

“Designated Survivor” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EDT on ABC.

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