Home · Politics · Oct 15 archive

Zacharia's Legal Credentials Under Scrutiny as Trump's Press Secretary

5:05 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, amid scrutiny over her legal credentials, according to reports from the BBC (United Kingdom) and Tribune (Pakistan).

The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, amid scrutiny over her legal credentials, according to reports from the BBC (United Kingdom) and Tribune (Pakistan).

According to the BBC (United Kingdom), Zacharia stated in an interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec that she worked on 'international transaction law' while in China.

The Tribune (Pakistan) also reported that Zacharia described herself as having 'practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,' but did not specify which credentials.

Both publications agree that Zacharia has been referred to as an attorney by President Trump and has previously described herself as a lawyer, despite not being licensed to practice law in any U.S. state.

The BBC (United Kingdom) and CBS News report that Zacharia confirmed her bar exam failure in an interview with Real America's Voice, stating that she took the exam while preparing to move to China.

NBC News and Popular Information | Judd Legum add that Zacharia's legal credentials are under investigation by the State Bar of California for potentially holding herself out as a lawyer without a license, which is a criminal offense.

The State Bar of California told NBC News that it cannot confirm whether it has received any complaints or is conducting any investigations due to confidentiality requirements.

Zacharia's debut as press secretary has been widely panned, with questions about her qualifications casting doubt on President Trump's decision to appoint her.

Despite the controversy, the White House maintains that Zacharia is uniquely qualified for the role, with President Trump describing her as 'a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team' and 'uniquely qualified and whip smart.'

Background

What's confirmed

• The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, as she faces scrutiny over her legal credentials.
• It is seeking an investigation into whether Zacharia "repeatedly held herself out to the public as entitled to practise law without a licence to do so, conduct California law treats as a crime".
• Zacharia has said she worked on "international transaction law" there.
• Zacharia made the comment in an interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec after the Wall Street Journal reported that she failed the bar exam in California in 2011 and did not pass the bar in any other U.S. state in which she's lived.
• "Any person advertising or holding himself or herself out as practicing or entitled to practice law or otherwise practicing law who is not an active licensee of the State Bar, or otherwise authorized pursuant to statute or court rule to practice law in this state at the time of doing so, is guilty of a misdemeanor."
• “I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,” Katie Zacharia previously said in a statement President Donald Trump described his new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia as an attorney — but she isn’t legally able to practice law in the U.S., according to new reports.

What's still developing

• Trump said some would "rather not watch" the killing of Nidal Hasan, the first military execution in over 60 years.
• "And the law doesn't just prohibit the unauthorized practice of law. It also prohibits the unauthorized pretense of being a lawyer."
• “We just said, 'Let’s take this time, and I’ll take the bar and see what happens,'” she said.
• The official argued that Zacharia could technically be considered a “lawyer,” though not an attorney.
• “Falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer is a criminal offense, punishable by fine or incarceration of up to a year in jail,” the letter said.
• READ MORE: Katie Zacharia's debut shows the pitfalls and possibilities of White House press secretary's role The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump's decision to hire Zacharia, who had worked for his social media company for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.
• WATCH: White House press secretary's debut brings news of Guilfoyle's exit From 2011 to 2013, it says, she served as an associate on the International Practice Team at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing.
• Asked what credentials she held, the White House passed along a statement from Zacharia, who received a bachelor of arts degree from Pepperdine University in 2007 and received her law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011, according to the school and her LinkedIn bio.
• "She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!"
• Zacharia, 41, attended law school at Pepperdine University and graduated in 2011 before sitting for the California bar exam, a source with direct knowledge told The Wall Street Journal.
• When a reporter asked her to name the state where she passed the bar exam, she responded, “When I moved to China.” In a subsequent phone call with The New York Times, Zacharia said she had misunderstood the question.
• Popular Information searched for evidence in all 50 states, plus D.C., that Zacharia was admitted to practice law anywhere — and found none.

Sources

• BBClink
• CBS Newslink
• Justthenewslink
• NBC Newslink
• PBSlink
• Peoplelink
• Popular Information | Judd Legumlink
• Tribunelink
• WarpBeat — background on Katie Zacharia Named New White House Press Secretary link
• WarpBeat — background on Katie Zacharia Begins Role as White House Press Secretary link
• KGET News — video link