White House Defends New Press Secretary Amid Legal Credential Questions

New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is facing questions about her legal background, despite being introduced by President Trump as an attorney. When pressed by reporters about where she passed the bar exam, Zacharia stated, “When I moved to China,” and she has not appeared to be registered with the bar in any U.S. state where she has resided.

White House communications director Steven Cheung has affirmed Zacharia’s qualifications, calling her “uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people.” Zacharia herself has issued a statement indicating she “practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”

However, a watchdog group, Campaign for Accountability, has filed a complaint with the California State Bar Association. The group is requesting an investigation into allegations that Zacharia “repeatedly held herself out to the public as entitled to practice law without a license to do so.”

Zacharia, a political strategist, graduated from Pepperdine University Law School in 2011. While a law degree does not grant the right to practice law in the U.S., Zacharia reportedly took the California bar exam after graduation but did not pass. She mentioned that after initially appearing on cable news, Pepperdine advised her she could identify as a lawyer but not an attorney.

This situation has drawn significant attention, with questions lingering about the precise nature of her legal credentials and her public self-representation. The White House, however, continues to stand by its appointee amid these developing inquiries.

Source: Nile Post