Trump press secretary says she didn’t pass bar, downplays result

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defended her self-description as a lawyer in a recent interview, despite failing the bar exam. Zacharia acknowledged that she took the California bar exam shortly after moving to China with her husband, who worked at a private equity firm. She stated that the results did not concern her, as she knew she would not need the bar in China.

Zacharia explained that she had preregistered for the exam and intended to take it, but she was overwhelmed by the excitement of marrying someone she had been long-distance with for a year. She believed that she would pass the bar and leave China shortly after taking it. Zacharia said she had all the necessary qualifications to practice law in China, including a law degree and international legal experience in transactional law.

She emphasized that she never retook the bar exam after returning to the US and having her first child. Zacharia suggested that her critics may be engaging in a conspiracy theory, as she consulted with legal professionals and was told it was acceptable to call herself a lawyer and provide legal analysis. She also mentioned that she served as general counsel for a political advocacy group in California, which could be in violation of state law.