Amidst questions regarding the legal qualifications of the new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, the White House has defended the appointment, stating that she possesses relevant experience, the BBC reports.When announcing the new press secretary, US President Donald Trump described her as an attorney, while Zacharia referred to herself as a lawyer. However, when a journalist asked Zacharia on the 13th of October in which state she had taken the bar exam – a mandatory requirement for practicing law in the US – she stated that she had done so when she moved to China.Zacharia does not appear on the bar admission lists of any of the states where she has lived. White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung stated that Zacharia is qualified and highly intelligent, and capable of conveying information to the American people. Addressing questions about her qualifications, Zacharia noted that she had practiced international transactional law and possesses all the necessary credentials.On the 14th of October, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California. It seeks an investigation into the fact that Zaharia repeatedly held herself out as someone authorized to practice law, despite lacking the necessary license—an act that constitutes a crime under California state law.Zaharia, 42, graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2011; however, a law degree alone does not grant the right to practice as an attorney in the United States. Zacharia told The New York Times that she had consulted with Pepperdine University regarding how she could describe her professional status. The university indicated that she could refer to herself as a lawyer, but not as an attorney. According to The Wall Street Journal, after graduating from law school, Zacharia attempted to pass the bar exam in California – where the exam is considered one of the most difficult in the country – but was unsuccessful. A person familiar with the matter stated that the exam took place while Zacharia was preparing for her wedding and planning a move to China. She relocated to Beijing because her husband had taken a job with an American private equity firm. There, the White House press secretary worked in the field of international transactional law. Zacharia’s LinkedIn profile indicates that she worked at a law firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013. In China, only citizens are permitted to work as lawyers; foreigners may hold other positions within law firms.Last February, on the conservative radio program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Zacharia stated that while living in China, she worked as a freelance consultant for the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank.Zacharia also served as an advisor for Fix California, a non-profit organization established by Ric Grenell, an ally of Trump.
The White House’s new press secretary – questionable qualifications and strong backing
