President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has come under scrutiny after admitting that she failed California's bar exam following her graduation from law school in 2011. Trump has previously criticized political opponents for their bar exam records, including Kamala Harris, who passed the exam on her second attempt in 1990. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described Zacharia as 'uniquely qualified and whip smart' amid questions regarding her legal background.
Zacharia was questioned about her bar exam status outside the White House, to which she responded with a comment about moving to China. She later clarified to The New York Times that she misheard the question. Reports indicate that she failed the bar exam in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine University’s law school and subsequently worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing.
Zacharia has been advised by lawyers that she can provide legal analysis based on her degree and international experience. However, she stated that Pepperdine’s president indicated she could call herself a lawyer, but not an attorney. Trump referred to her as 'a distinguished Graduate of Pepperdine University, and the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, an attorney' in his appointment announcement.
Two nonprofit organizations have called for investigations into how Zacharia has represented her legal credentials. The Democracy Defenders Fund alleged that she has misrepresented herself as a lawyer while working as general counsel for nonprofit Fix California. Campaign for Accountability filed a separate complaint regarding her media appearances, stating that she has misled the public about her credentials. Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of Campaign for Accountability, emphasized that misrepresenting oneself as a lawyer in California could be a criminal offense. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.