Who is Gray S. Grantham from The Pelican Brief and what is their importance?

Gray S. Grantham is a reporter for the Washington Post, Grantham is a 38-year-old night owl, divorced seven years without children, who lives alone with a cat. He drives a Volvo and alternates between listed and unlisted phone numbers. He is currently listed. Six years previously, he authors a book on HUD scandals that does not sell well. Occasionally, he gets inside information from a seemingly blind janitor in the West Wing, Sarge, and uses the services of a paroled drug offender whenever he needs a sleazy "halfass private investigator." Croft likes to work for Grantham, who does not pretend to be pious when he needs dirt