US President Donald Trump’s newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, is facing scrutiny over her legal qualifications after a watchdog organisation requested an investigation into claims that she presented herself as a licensed attorney.
The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, urging officials to determine whether Zacharia misrepresented her professional credentials.
The organisation’s executive director, Michelle Kuppersmith, said Zacharia had repeatedly described herself as a lawyer, including during television appearances and while serving as general counsel for a conservative nonprofit organisation.
Trump also referred to Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment. However, journalists have found no records confirming that she holds a licence to practise law in any US state or the District of Columbia.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 and previously worked at a law firm in Beijing. She has maintained that she practised international transactional law with the appropriate credentials but has not clarified where she obtained a professional licence.
During her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, reporters questioned her about the bar examination. She responded that she had taken it after moving to China, without identifying a jurisdiction where she was licensed.
California’s State Bar reportedly confirmed that it had no licensing record under either her married or maiden name.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of Zacharia’s professional background as she assumes responsibility for communicating the Trump administration’s policies and responding to journalists’ questions.
No finding of professional misconduct has been established, and the requested investigation will determine whether further action is warranted.
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