Trump's new press secretary admits failing bar exam

Washington: New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia disclosed on Thursday that she had failed the bar exam, which is required to practice law in the United States, as her credentials come under scrutiny. Zacharia has previously identified herself as a lawyer in television appearances and on social media, and listed her position as general counsel of a California-based conservative non-profit organization.

Questions arose about her legal status after she gave a vague response regarding where she had passed the bar exam. The 41-year-old earned her law degree from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011, but having a degree does not guarantee the ability to practice law. During a Fox News interview on Thursday, host Sean Hannity questioned Zacharia about her failed bar exam status, to which she replied affirmatively.

Zacharia subsequently stated in an interview with conservative media outlet Real America's Voice that she had registered for the bar exam but was preoccupied with plans to relocate to China with her husband. She disclosed that the bar exam was not necessary in China, as foreign nationals cannot take the exam, although they can engage in certain legal work at Chinese law firms.

When Hannity inquired if she had sat for the bar exam a second time, Zacharia affirmed that she had not. She explained that she had four children in six years and never intended to pursue a career in law. Zacharia claimed that many people in the field had assured her that she could refer to herself as a lawyer based on her law degree and experience in business law acquired in China, where she worked at a Beijing law firm.

She emphasized that she could provide legal analysis but not legal advice. The Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics organization, urged the California Bar Association to initiate an investigation, asserting that calling oneself a lawyer without a license is illegal in California. Zacharia made her first press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, participating in a brief press conference with only three journalists present.

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