Law Career of White House Spokesperson Katie Zacharia Under Scrutiny

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Faces Scrutiny Over Professional Background

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is facing criticism over her claims about her professional background. A public accountability nonprofit has filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, alleging that Zacharia falsely claimed to be a licensed lawyer.

According to Zacharia’s LinkedIn profile, she received a degree from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011. However, critics have questioned whether she obtained a license to practice law, as she has suggested. The complaint filed by the Campaign for Accountability states that Zacharia represented herself as a lawyer repeatedly to enhance her reputation and credibility as a television legal commentator.

The State Bar of California regulates the licensing of lawyers in the state, and calling oneself a lawyer without a license is considered a crime. The organization is requesting an investigation into whether Zacharia misled the public about her credentials and holding her accountable if found guilty.

Zacharia began her term as White House press secretary on Tuesday and appeared to struggle with her role during a brief news briefing. She later joined Trump outside the White House to speak with reporters, but when asked where she passed the bar exam, she replied that she did so in China. This response has sparked media scrutiny, as China’s equivalent of the bar exam can only be taken by Chinese citizens.

Zacharia’s LinkedIn profile also lists her as an associate at a law firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013 and general counsel for Fix California, a voter rights group started by a Trump administration official. However, it is unclear whether she obtained a license to practice law in any state in the US.

In response to the scrutiny, Zacharia stated that she practices international transaction law with all necessary credentials. She has previously worked as a communications adviser at the Department of Homeland Security and senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group.

Source: Al Jazeera