As revealed during the course of the show's second season, Verna was part of the Defiance Conspiracy, which was led by Hollis Doyle. The conspiracy involved Hollis having the voting machines in Defiance, Ohio rigged during the Presidential Election, which resulted in Fitz Grant being elected President over Democratic opponent Samuel Reston. Verna had knowledge of the tampering, as well as Cyrus Beene, eventual First Lady Mellie Grant, and Olivia Pope (the series' main protagonist), but all of them covered up Hollis' role. Regarding Verna, she was promised a seat in the Supreme Court, but after Grant instructed Sally Langston (Fitz's former Republican rival turned running mate and Vice President) to compile a list of nominees for the seat, Olivia and Cyrus smeared the good name of Langston's candidate, leading to Verna getting the Justice seat.
