Key facts
- White House press secretary Katie Zacharia's legal credentials are under scrutiny.
- Zacharia stated she practiced international transaction law with appropriate credentials.
- She took the California bar exam but did not pass.
- A watchdog group filed a complaint seeking an investigation into whether Zacharia practiced law without a license.
- Zacharia worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011-2013.
- She served as general counsel for Fix California.
The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, as she faces scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Donald Trump described Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment last week, and she has referred to herself as a lawyer. However, records of her bar admission in any U.S. state could not be found. Zacharia stated she practiced international transaction law with appropriate credentials and worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013. She also served as general counsel for Fix California. A watchdog group has filed a complaint seeking an investigation into whether she practiced law without a license.