Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 15: US President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary has come under scrutiny following questions about her legal credentials and her widely questioned debut at the presidential podium.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Zacharia took the California bar examination after graduating from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 but failed to pass it. The disclosure has raised questions about her repeated references to herself as a lawyer and Trump’s description of her as an attorney while announcing her appointment.
The controversy gained momentum after independent journalist Judd Legum questioned whether Zacharia was licensed to practise law in his Popular Information newsletter. Searches of public records reportedly did not identify her as a licensed attorney in California, Texas or Washington, DC, under either her married or maiden name.
During a briefing on Tuesday, reporters asked Zacharia where she had passed the bar examination. She responded, “When I moved to China,” without providing further clarification.
In a statement issued this week, Zacharia said she had practised international transaction law “with all the appropriate credentials.” The White House defended her appointment, with communications director Steven Cheung describing her as “uniquely qualified and whip smart” and expressing confidence in her performance.
A White House official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump had not hired Zacharia to handle legal matters.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011 before moving to Beijing, where she joined the international practice team at Zhong Lun Law Firm. A person familiar with her employment told the newspaper that she worked on cross-border transactions, including drafting multimillion-dollar agreements and communicating with American and multinational corporate clients.
Her work in the firm’s international division did not necessarily require admission to the Chinese bar, the source said, explaining that international associates worked as legal consultants while local Chinese partners handled legal opinions where required.
Zacharia has also said she worked as outside counsel to the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank while based in China. Her professional profile lists experience in international corporate law and nonprofit work, including a stint as general counsel for Fix California, an organisation founded by Trump administration official Richard Grenell.
The controversy centres on the distinction between holding a law degree and being licensed to practise law. In the United States, lawyers generally must meet the licensing requirements of the jurisdiction in which they practise, including passing the relevant bar examination and satisfying other admission criteria. Rules governing unauthorised legal practice vary by state.