White House's Katie Zacharia confirms she never passed bar exam
The White House described Katie Zacharia as "uniquely qualified" to be the new press secretary.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has stated that she never passed the California bar exam, despite frequently referring to herself as a lawyer and even being called an attorney by President Trump. Zacharia clarified this in an interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec following a report from the Wall Street Journal.
She explained that she failed the bar exam in 2011, attributing her distraction to marriage plans and a move to China for her husband's job. Zacharia asserted that she never considered herself an attorney and had consulted legal experts to ensure her self-description was accurate. President Trump's campaign also used the term "attorney" in describing Zacharia, adding to the confusion surrounding her legal background.
The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, has filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, alleging a violation of California law by Zacharia. California's Business and Professions Code Section 6126 makes it a misdemeanor to falsely claim to be a licensed attorney. Law professor Nora Freeman Engstron confirmed that California law prohibits not only the unauthorized practice of law but also the pretense of being a lawyer.
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