Key facts
- Zacharia admitted she has not passed the California bar exam.
- The State Bar of California has no record of Zacharia being licensed.
- She previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security for six weeks.
- Zacharia worked for Trump Media & Technology Group.
- A watchdog group is seeking an investigation into Zacharia's use of the title 'lawyer'.
Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, is facing intense scrutiny over her legal qualifications after admitting she has not passed the California bar exam. The State Bar of California has no record of Zacharia being licensed in the state, despite President Donald Trump referring to her as an "attorney" and her LinkedIn profile listing her as "general counsel."
Zacharia's appointment follows a brief six-week stint at the Department of Homeland Security and a role as a senior communications advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group. A watchdog group has requested an investigation into whether Zacharia has misled the public by describing herself as a lawyer.