Trump spokeswoman admits failing bar exam

Washington, October 16 - White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia admitted on Thursday that she failed the bar exam, a requirement for practicing law in the United States, as her qualifications come under scrutiny. Zacharia, appointed as the new press secretary by President Donald Trump last week, had previously described herself as a lawyer on television and on social media.

She also listed herself as the general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit. Questions about her legal credentials emerged after her confusing response regarding the location where she took the bar exam. During a Fox News interview on Thursday, host Sean Hannity confronted Zacharia about her failed bar exam, to which she unequivocally responded, "Yes."

In a follow-up interview with conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice, Zacharia explained that she had registered to take the bar exam but was "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband. She then clarified that the bar exam results were not significant as she would not need the license in China.

Hannity then asked if she had retaken the bar exam, to which Zacharia replied, "I did not." She further stated that her decision not to pursue a legal career stemmed from having four children in six years. Zacharia argued that many professionals in her field had assured her that she could label herself as a lawyer due to her law degree and experience in business law gained in China.

She also clarified that she could provide legal analysis, not legal advice. The Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics organization, urged the California Bar Association to investigate Zacharia's claim, asserting that falsely calling oneself a lawyer without a license is a crime in California. Zacharia made her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, with an unusually brief session, answering questions from only three journalists.

She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, a staunch Trump supporter and often combative press secretary, who resigned in August to focus on her family.