Trump’s new press secretary admits failing bar exam

Washington: President Donald Trump's latest press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has admitted to failing the bar exam, a requirement for practicing law in the United States, as her qualifications come under scrutiny. Zacharia has previously identified herself as a lawyer on television and social media platforms, also claiming to be the general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit.

However, her legal standing was called into question following an inconclusive response about the examination she allegedly passed. The 41-year-old graduated from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011, yet having a degree does not inherently grant legal practice rights. During a Fox News interview on Thursday, host Sean Hannity inquired, "You took the bar exam, but you didn't pass the bar exam, correct?"

Zacharia replied affirmatively. In a subsequent conversation with conservative media outlet Real America's Voice, Zacharia stated she had registered to take the bar exam but was overwhelmed by relocation plans to China with her husband. She explained that foreign nationals could not sit for China's bar exam, though they could engage in certain legal activities at Chinese law firms.

When asked if she had retaken the bar exam, Zacharia stated, "I did not." She added that four children born in six years prevented her from pursuing a legal career. Zacharia claimed on Real America's Voice that many in the legal field had assured her she could label herself a lawyer due to her law degree and experience in business law acquired in China, where she worked at a Beijing law firm.

She clarified that she could offer legal analysis but not legal advice. The Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics organization, called for the California Bar Association to initiate an investigation. They emphasized that falsely claiming to be a lawyer without a license is a crime in California. Zacharia made her inaugural White House press briefing on Tuesday, engaging with only three journalists, a stark contrast to her predecessor Karoline Leavitt, a staunch Trump supporter who resigned in August to care for her young children.