New White House Press Secretary Faces Questions Over Legal Credentials

Washington: The newly appointed White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, is facing mounting questions about her professional background and résumé as she settles into her role as the public face of the Trump administration.

Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer while building a profile as a commentator on conservative outlets such as Fox News and Newsmax. However, neither she nor the White House has so far provided evidence that she has passed the bar examination in any US state, or in China, where she previously worked for a large law firm.

The questions add to the uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Zacharia, who had worked at his social media company for only a few months before her appointment was announced. Her first briefing from the White House podium on Tuesday drew widespread criticism.

Following the briefing, reporters asked the President where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, after the independent outlet Popular Information reported that she did not appear to be licensed to practise law in any state. Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to respond.

“When I moved to China,” she said, speaking over the noise of Marine One in the background. It remained unclear what she had intended to convey or whether she had finished her answer.

China’s National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination, widely regarded as one of the most demanding legal exams, is open only to Chinese citizens.

When asked about her credentials, the White House shared a statement from Zacharia, which read: “I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”

According to Pepperdine University and her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine University in 2007 and a law degree from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011.