Richard Denner is a character in NBC’s The Blacklist.
Background[]
Richard has a history with Reven Wright and Thomas Connolly. He always saw Thomas as a “smug bastard” while Thomas always saw Richard as a “paranoid self-righteous prick”.
He is a former criminal defense attorney, as well as a former Berkeley law professor. He is an advocate for government transparency and accountability. Denner viewed the “national security” excuse as the greatest threat to the United States Constitution.
He has been a judge for over 30 years and learned that the Department of Justice’s “barks” were far worse than their “bites”.
According to Thomas Connolly, Denner has been considered “insane” by the Beltway for years. The reason for this “insanity” is never revealed. It is likely related to his refusal to bend and/or fold when confronted with federal authority.
Season 2[]
“The Major”[]
He is specifically requested by Marking due to his hatred of government secrecy and the “national security” excuse. Denner agrees to the request despite knowing that he is legally exceeding his authority. At the beginning of the inquiry, Richard dismissed Reven Wright’s warnings that he was making a legal mistake. During the enquiry he was openly biased against Reven’s objections.
During the in-camera hearing with Elizabeth Keen and Harold Cooper, he broke federal laws and threatened them with incarceration. He learned about the Task Force and the immunity agreement with Raymond Reddington.
Wilcox shows Denner a bullet from the crime scene that links Keen’s handgun to the murder.
“Tom Keen”[]
Reven Wright informed Denner that the Thomas Connolly is now involved. Denner remained impassive and demanded that the Thomas Connolly make a personal appearance. When Tom Keen surrenders himself to protect Elizabeth; he confesses to the murder of the harbor master and claims Liz had no involvement and even tried to stop him from committing the murder. Even with evidence that Liz was not guilty for the murder, Denner planned to charge Keen with perjury and kidnapping. He learns that Tom is still in love with her.
Thomas Connolly arrives and orders Denner to end the inquiry. Connolly tells Denner that he had “crossed the line” and accessed classified information without legal authority, having ignored the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Connolly threatens to charge Denner with the violation of federal laws regarding national security regulations. Denner is sickened at the option of folding to threats and legitimizing government secrecy, but Thomas made it clear to Denner that if he refused the order, Denner would be indicted. Finally realizing how grave the situation that he is in, Denner asked if the Post Office Task Force is that important to Connolly, Connolly replied that he does not know what that is and neither does Denner. Connolly states that Denner “crossed the line” and that he is willing to “move past it”. As he was leaving, Connolly mocked Denner and let Denner know that if he made the right decision, then as Attorney General, Denner will be appointed to a “real court”. Denner realizes he has been defeated.
Appearing before the court, he told the participants not to rise as the government had shown its contempt for the rule of law. Outraged at being terrorized by the government, Denner gives a speech on the importance of upholding the United States Constitution; then declaring that if Keen or Cooper testify, it will endanger national security, he ends the enquiry. When Brad Marking and Martin Wilcox object to the injustice, he makes it clear that they are low level employees in the federal government and have no power over this case. Wilcox’s outrage is ignored and Denner orders him to accept the ruling. Marking quickly accepts the defeat. Denner reminded Elizabeth Keen about her duty to enforce the law and to let the good work she does be in some way a tribute to Eugene Ames’s memory.
After the inquiry ends, Connolly reveals to Elizabeth that Denner never had a case against her, he only needed to intervene because of Denner’s bias against the government. In addition, he reveals he had Tom released from custody before leaving. Later upon meeting Red, Elizabeth learned that this was all preplanned by him; he brought Tom back in order to shove the Attorney General into intervening and ending Denner's biased enquiry, to protect the government's secrets.
Unanswered Questions[]
- Why is Denner opposed to government secrecy?
- A: Most likely because of his inability of seeing the "bigger picture" and his moral standards. This is why he was never given a position on a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- Why did Denner break federal law?
- A: He arrogantly believed that the government would not retaliate.
- Will Denner interfere with government cases again?
- A: Unlikely, as he realized from his confrontation with Connolly, the dangers of testing the government's authority.
- Will Denner expose the government's secret alliance with Raymond Reddington?
- A: Unlikely, as the Justice Department would deny the alliance and wreck Denner's career with his false allegations.
- Will Denner be given a position on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court?
- A: Unlikely, as he would most likely reject the offer due to their amoral/immoral decisions.
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