La nouvelle porte-parole de la Maison-Blanche défend son titre d’avocate tout en disant ne pas avoir réussi l’examen du barreau

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia admitted Thursday that she did not pass the bar exam in California in 2011 and has not retaken it since. The revelation came during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who repeatedly asked whether she had passed the examination. After several questions, Zacharia confirmed that she had not passed the test and had not attempted it again. Zacharia, 41, faces criticism for having used the title "attorney" in approximately 15 social media posts, even though she does not have official legal licensing. In the United States, the term "attorney" typically requires a state license, while "lawyer" can sometimes refer to someone with a law degree but not necessarily licensed to practice law. During the interview, Zacharia defended her use of the term "lawyer," stating that many professionals in the field had assured her it was acceptable to identify as such based on her law degree and experience in business law gained in China. She emphasized that she had been "very careful" in how she presented herself. Zacharia explained that she took the bar exam in 2011 primarily to avoid appearing hesitant about facing the challenge. However, she added that the outcome was not particularly significant for her career at the time, as she planned to move to China with her husband. There, she worked as a lawyer at a major Chinese law firm. She further clarified that she did not retake the bar exam upon returning to the United States due to the birth of her first child. Despite these explanations, critics argue that using the term "attorney" without proper licensing could constitute a violation of professional conduct laws in some U.S. states. Campaign for Accountability, a political ethics group, has called for an investigation into Zacharia's claims, noting that in California, identifying oneself as a lawyer without a license is not merely boastful but potentially illegal. Zacharia assumed the role of White House press secretary recently, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August to care for her young children. Her initial press briefing was notably brief, answering questions from only three selected journalists. Zacharia's appointment has drawn attention due to the scrutiny surrounding her professional background. While she has highlighted her law degree from Pepperdine University and her work in China, the controversy over her legal qualifications continues to grow.