Katie Zacharia’s legal credentials under scrutiny after report claims she did not pass California bar exam

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's qualifications have recently come into question following a Wall Street Journal report. The report revealed that despite President Trump's description of her as an attorney, Zacharia did not pass the California bar exam. She had taken the exam around the time she was planning her wedding and preparing to move to China.

While she did pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, which assesses a candidate's understanding of legal and ethical principles, this did not grant her a license to practice law. The inconsistency in her claims about her legal credentials became evident on her first day at the White House, when she told reporters she passed the bar exam while living in China.

She had worked as an associate at Zhong Lun Law Firm, specializing in international transaction law, after graduating from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011. She moved to China with her husband due to his job. White House spokesman Steven Cheung defended Zacharia, stating her unique qualifications and intelligence would benefit the administration.