In the next episode of the political drama TV series "Designated Survivor," President Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) and his staff work overtime to fend off a political attack against the first family.

The trailer for the upcoming installment titled "Three-Letter Day" was released just recently and showed Tom briefing his staff. "I know that the White House is like a family. I can't do my job when I am kept in the dark," the president says with concern. Apparently, the staff including Seth Wright (Kal Penn), Aaron Shore (Adan Canto), Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci), and Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo) are not telling the president some important information in order to keep him separate from a major family controversy. It seems that Tom's wife Alex (Natascha McElhone) was framed to look like she was accepting bribes from a nefarious group. The White House lawyer Kendra Daynes (Zoe McLellan) meets with Tom and his wife.

"We cannot clear you," Daynes tells Alex who gives a worried look. It appears that the lawyer is having a hard time containing the controversy and does not want to expose Alex any further to the public. "This is a damn setup!" the First Lady says in disgust. The president then asks his wife, "If I interfere in [the] investigation, then who would I be?" She replies, "My husband." However, Kirkman knows that the president should always try and remain impartial no matter in any investigation.

In the last episode, the president went to Afghanistan to negotiate with two warring factions. After a failed attack on their camp, Kirkman doubled down on the two leaders and was able to strike a deal with one of them. The other was arrested for staging the attack.

"Designated Survivor" season 2 episode 9 will hit the small screen on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.