Trump’s new press secretary appears to acknowledge failing Bar exam amid scrutiny over lawyer claims

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 — As new scrutiny of her legal credentials surfaces, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia seems to have acknowledged her failure to pass the Bar exam during her questioning by conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice. Despite being appointed by President Donald Trump, Zacharia has repeatedly described herself as a lawyer on television and social media platforms, including on her role as the general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit.

However, there is no evidence that she has ever passed the Bar exam, a requirement for obtaining a license to practice law in the United States, after earning her law degree from Pepperdine University. When questioned about her legal status, Zacharia claimed to have registered for the Bar exam but became "distracted and overwhelmed" while planning her move to China with her husband.

She clarified that her decision to take the exam was later abandoned, as she did not need it in China, and left the country shortly afterwards. Upon her return to the United States, Zacharia gave birth to her first child, leading her to forgo retaking the Bar exam. She argued that some in the legal profession assured her that, due to her law degree and business law experience in China, she could label herself a lawyer, provide legal analysis, but not legal advice.

The Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics organization, has called for the California Bar Association to investigate Zacharia's claims, stating that in California, falsely presenting oneself as a lawyer without a license constitutes a crime. Zacharia made her first White House press appearance on Tuesday, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August to focus on her young children.