PoliticsTrending
The White House defends new press secretary Katie Zacharia after she failed to identify a US state where she passed the bar exam. A watchdog group has filed a complaint with the California State Bar Association.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, as she faces scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Donald Trump described Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment last week, and she has referred to herself as a lawyer. However, questions have arisen regarding her licensure to practice law in the United States.
When asked by a reporter on Tuesday in which state she had passed the bar exam required to be an attorney in the US, Zacharia said standing alongside the president: "When I moved to China." She does not appear to be registered to the bar in any state where she has lived.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said Zacharia is "uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people." Responding to questions about her credentials, Zacharia said in a statement this week: "I practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials."
According to the Wall Street Journal, Zacharia took the bar exam in California after graduating from law school but did not pass. California's bar exam is widely regarded as one of the hardest in the US to pass. A person with direct knowledge of the matter told the outlet that Zacharia took the exam around the same time that she was planning a wedding and preparing to move to China with her husband-to-be.
The 42-year-old political strategist graduated from law school at Pepperdine University in California in 2011, the university confirmed. A law degree is not a licence to practise law in the US. Zacharia told the New York Times on Wednesday that when she first began appearing on cable news, she had asked Pepperdine how she should identify herself. She said she was advised by the university president that she could call herself a lawyer, but not an attorney.
On Wednesday, a watchdog group, Campaign for Accountability, filed a complaint with the California State Bar Association. They are seeking an investigation into whether Zacharia "repeatedly held herself out to the public as entitled to practise law without a licence to do so, conduct California law treats as a crime."
Zacharia moved to Beijing because of her husband's job at an American private equity firm. Her LinkedIn profile states that she worked as an associate at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011-13. In China, only Chinese citizens are eligible to obtain a licence to practise law. Foreign employees may work at law firms in other roles.
In February last year, Zacharia said on conservative radio programme The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show that she had worked as outside counsel for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank during her time in China. The BBC has contacted the World Bank and IFC for comment. It is understood the World Bank Group sometimes retains outside law firms, and that those firms decide which of their lawyers are assigned to which parts of any work.
Zacharia has also served as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative non-profit started by Trump ally Ric Grenell, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci joined CNN’s Elex Michaelson to weigh in on how he thinks Katie Zacharia is performing in her new role. Scaramucci stated that Zacharia is "not qualified for the job."
The controversy highlights the distinction between holding a law degree and possessing a license to practice law in the United States. While the White House maintains that Zacharia is qualified for her communications role, the filing of a formal complaint with the California State Bar Association introduces potential legal and professional repercussions regarding her public representation of her credentials.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants to reinstate a 2024 plea deal. The decision clears the way for a military trial scheduled for June 2028.
PoliticsTrending
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding New Mexico change its name to 'New America,' citing prestige and election integrity. This follows previous attempts to rename geographic features and occurs amid midterm election campaigning.