A peek at what’s going on inside the FBI

A Brief Review

A peek at what’s going on inside the FBI

The soon-to-be-released movie “Breach,” screened last week at the Canadian Embassy, is based on the FBI’s real-life dealings with a double agent in its midst: Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). Hanssen sold top-secret information to the Soviet Union and Russia, constituting one of the worst security breaches in American history.

To catch the agent, 20-something FBI rookie Eric O’Neill (played by actor Ryan Phillippe) was deployed to trick the agent who for 15 years fooled the FBI.

The movie tells a tale of patriotism and personal sacrifice, touching on the difficulties of balancing an FBI career with a marriage.

If you’re looking to see a great thriller, “Breach” may disappoint. Instead, you’ll get a sneak peek on what transpires behind the closed doors of the FBI.

With its four Canadian stars and scenes shot in Toronto (as well as around the District), the premiere appropriately was held at the Canadian Embassy here in Washington. Generation Engage, which involves young people with politics by sponsoring iChats with political leaders, hosted the event, and afterward held an iChat with O’Neill and “Breach” director Billy Ray.

While shooting the movie, O’Neill says he became close with the actor who played him, Phillippe. “He is a great guy and a very talented actor,” O’Neill said after the premiere.

 Rep. McMorris officially changes her name

With two months to go until her son is born, Rep. Cathy McMorris (R-Wash.) has taken her husband’s name. The couple were married in August and await the birth of their first child at the end of May. She now will be known as Cathy McMorris-Rodgers.

Both the congresswoman’s Washington and district offices now have aides answering her phones as such. As her press secretary, Jill Strait, explained, “She was McMorris on the ballot, so through the campaign she wanted to stick with McMorris.”

Strait said the name change was no easy matter. It required that McMorris-Rodgers replace her letterhead, website URL and graphics, and the plaque on the door.

“There’s a lot involved and you don’t realize,” Strait said. “She had wanted to change it after she got married. As soon as she got married she legally became Cathy McMorris-Rodgers. She just kept it through the fall for campaign purposes, but fully expected to add the ‘Rodgers’ in the 110th.”

McMorris-Rodgers’s office held a staff retreat here in Washington three weeks ago in which they went over the new name change. “It does take some getting used to,” Strait said. “It is longer.”

 Rep. Wasserman Schultz buys her wardrobe on eBay

Members of Congress lead busy lives, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who each week jets between South Florida and Washington, D.C., is no exception. For members like her, the thought of finding time to browse boutiques is overwhelming.

“Who has time to go shopping?” asked Wasserman Schultz.

The congresswoman decidedly does not. She resorts to shopping online — sometimes logging on to eBay or Rodeodriveresale.com in the middle of the night.

Wasserman Schultz recently was spotted at the 63rd annual Congressional Dinner at Washington’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel in a chic, full-length, strapless black gown with white stripes up the sides, paired with a matching wrap. She bought the dress on eBay for $150.

The congresswoman admitted that her husband, Steve, sometimes chooses her dot-com couture. When she shops, she said, the process is easy. She sends in her measurements and the alterations are all done when the garment arrives.

The catch? “The risk on eBay is, it’s sight unseen,” she said, adding that the time saved makes the gamble worthwhile.

Announcements

Rep. Blackburn’s spokesman becomes a father

A spokesman to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Matt Lambert, and his wife, Fox 5 reporter Claudia Coffey, welcomed a son, Jack, into the world Monday, Feb. 5 at 11:01 p.m. The baby was born six pounds, four ounces, and was 19-and-a-half inches long.

“Considering his parents’ background, it doesn’t surprise me that Jack Lambert made it here in time to catch the lead story of the 11 o’clock news. This boy is destined to do great things for our country,” Blackburn said.

Coffey had a different reaction to her son’s late-night appearance: “Although I really wanted him to come sooner, rather than later, I’m just glad he’s here — believe me,” she said.

In a release issued by Lambert, he allowed his son to “speak” for the first time. The baby alluded to his future political career and said, “In the future I intend to work with my contemporaries on both sides of the aisle to curtail runaway federal spending, support a strong military and increase the abundance of mashed bananas. It’s something we can all agree on and the American people need. Excuse me now — I need to take a nap.”

Tips, complaints, sightings and separated at birth: betsyr@digital-staging.thehill.com or (202) 628-8516.

Announcements, which include births, engagements, deaths or any significant life event, can be sent to the above address or phone number.
 
Margareta Heed contributed to this report.