Trump’s new press secretary Katie Zacharia defends ‘lawyer’ title despite failing bar exam

Washington: White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, appointed by President Donald Trump, faced scrutiny over her legal credentials after questions arose about whether she had passed the bar exam. Despite listing herself as a lawyer on various platforms, there is no evidence that Zacharia, a 41-year-old with a law degree from Pepperdine University, has ever successfully passed the bar exam required to practice law in the United States.

When questioned about her legal status, Zacharia acknowledged that she had registered to take the bar exam but claimed she became "distracted and overwhelmed" by moving plans to China. She explained that she didn't retake the bar exam upon her return to the U.S. due to the birth of her first child. Zacharia defended her use of the title "lawyer," stating that she was assured by others in the field that she could legally label herself as such.

However, the Campaign for Accountability called for an investigation by the California Bar Association, arguing that in California, calling oneself a lawyer without a license constitutes a crime.