The Trump administration backs its new press secretary as a watchdog seeks an investigation into claims about her legal credentials and authorisation to practise law.
Web Desk: The White House is defending newly appointed press secretary Katie Zacharia as questions grow over her legal credentials and whether she has been licensed to practise law in the United States.
The controversy escalated after Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog group, filed a complaint with the California State Bar seeking an investigation into whether Zacharia presented herself publicly as authorised to practise law without the required licence.
US President Donald Trump introduced Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment. Zacharia has also described herself as a lawyer in public profiles and professional roles.
However, reporting by Reuters and other news organisations has found no evidence that she is licensed to practise law in any US state or the District of Columbia. The questions have drawn renewed attention to her professional background following her first White House press briefing.
White House Stands by Its New Press Secretary
White House communications director Steven Cheung defended Zacharia’s appointment, describing her as “uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people.”
The administration has also relayed Zacharia’s explanation of her professional experience. In a statement addressing the controversy, she said: “I practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”
The statement did not publicly identify a US jurisdiction in which she holds a licence to practise law.
The White House’s defence comes as journalists and legal observers seek clarification about the basis for describing Zacharia as an attorney and the nature of her previous legal work.
Questions Over Her Bar Examination
The issue gained prominence during an exchange with reporters on Tuesday, October 13, when Zacharia was asked where she had passed the bar examination.
“When I moved to China,” she replied, according to published reports.
The answer did not establish which examination she had taken or the jurisdiction in which she was authorised to practise. Subsequent reporting by Reuters said it could not find records showing that she was registered as an attorney or member of the bar in any US state or Washington, DC.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011. However, a law degree by itself does not confer a licence to practise law in the United States.
Watchdog Seeks Investigation
Campaign for Accountability has asked the California State Bar to examine whether Zacharia repeatedly represented herself as entitled to practise law without holding the necessary licence.
The complaint seeks an investigation; it is not a judicial finding that Zacharia committed a crime or violated professional rules.
California law regulates the unauthorised practice of law, but determining whether a violation occurred would require an assessment of the relevant representations, conduct and applicable legal provisions.
The filing adds to scrutiny of Zacharia’s professional history, including her reported work at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing and her previous role as general counsel at the California advocacy organisation Fix California.
The exact nature of her responsibilities in those positions remains relevant to understanding what legal work she performed and what qualifications were required.
What the Controversy Means
The dispute raises questions about transparency in senior government appointments and the distinction between earning a law degree and being admitted to practise in a particular jurisdiction.
It also places the White House under pressure to clarify the credentials of an official who serves as a principal public representative of the president and his administration.
