The White House’s newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, could not state the jurisdiction in which she passed the bar exam when queried on her first day, leading to a formal complaint urging the State Bar of California to examine whether she has falsely presented herself as a licensed attorney.
**What sparked the investigation?**
The Campaign for Accountability, a U.S. watchdog organization, filed a grievance with the State Bar of California, alleging that Zacharia has repeatedly claimed to be a lawyer on television and listed herself as general counsel of a California‑based conservative nonprofit.
**Who made the allegations?**
Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the watchdog group, said, “Ms Zacharia has represented herself as a lawyer repeatedly to buttress her reputation and credibility.” She added that the bar should determine if the public has been misled about Zacharia’s credentials.
**What is the background of the claim?**
President Donald Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment on October 9, referring to her as “an attorney.” Media checks, however, have found no record of her being admitted to practice law in any U.S. state.
**How did Zacharia respond?**
When pressed about her qualifications, Zacharia replied, “I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,” but did not confirm holding a U.S. law licence. When asked on October 13 where she passed the bar, she answered, “When I moved to China,” without naming a specific jurisdiction.
**What do official records show?**
The State Bar of California told U.S. media that its database contains no licence under either Zacharia’s married or maiden name.
**What is Zacharia’s professional background?**
She earned her J.D. from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011. A law degree alone does not grant the right to practice law; a licence is required. Foreign nationals cannot sit China’s bar exam, though they may perform certain legal tasks at Chinese firms. Zacharia’s profile indicates prior work at a Beijing‑based law firm.
**How did her debut briefing go?**
During a 14‑minute press briefing on October 13, Zacharia relied heavily on prepared notes, took questions from only three media outlets perceived as sympathetic to Trump, and stumbled on several answers, even mistakenly referring to the president as her husband. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, now a TV host, likened the session to a Saturday Night Live sketch. Trump, however, praised the performance, saying he thought she was “very good.”
Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August after becoming a prominent defender of Trump’s second administration.