La nouvelle secrétaire de presse de Trump dit qu'elle n'a pas réussi l'examen du barreau

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has confirmed she did not pass the bar exam, responding to growing scrutiny over her legal credentials following her recent appointment to the position. The revelation comes amid questions raised by media outlets and a watchdog group regarding her claim to have practiced law. Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 but reportedly failed the California bar exam, according to a source familiar with the matter. Despite this, she has previously described herself as a lawyer in public appearances and listed herself as general counsel for a California-based conservative nonprofit. The Campaign for Accountability, a non-profit watchdog group, has requested the State Bar of California to investigate whether Zacharia misrepresented her credentials by identifying herself as a lawyer without a license. During a Fox News interview, Zacharia confirmed she did not pass the bar exam. When asked directly by host Sean Hannity, she responded, “Correct.” She further clarified that she did not retake the exam after moving to China with her husband, where she worked at a law firm in Beijing. Zacharia attributed her decision to prioritize personal life over the bar exam, stating she did not need it to work in China. Zacharia’s first press briefing as White House press secretary on Tuesday lasted less than 15 minutes and drew criticism from media commentators. During the briefing, she was asked which state she passed the bar exam in and responded, “When I moved to China.” She later explained that she misheard the question due to the noise from Marine One and thought the reporter was asking about her post-law school activities. President Donald Trump praised Zacharia’s performance, saying, “I thought she was very good.” However, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki criticized the briefing, comparing it to a comedic sketch on Saturday Night Live. Zacharia succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August to care for her children. Her appointment follows a rapid transition, with Zacharia accepting the position just days after being contacted by a White House official. She traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., met with officials, and began her role within a week. Legal experts note that while “lawyer” and “attorney” are often used interchangeably, the term “attorney” typically refers to someone licensed to practice law. Zacharia has maintained that she used the term appropriately based on her law degree and experience in international transactional law, consulting with other legal professionals about its appropriateness. The State Bar of California confirmed it has no record of Zacharia being licensed under either her married or maiden name. Despite this, she continues to assert her legal background and has defended her use of the term “lawyer” in interviews.