Watchdog asks California bar to probe press secretary's lawyer claims
A watchdog group asked California's State Bar to investigate whether White House press secretary Katie Zacharia illegally called herself a lawyer. The State Bar says it has no record of her being licensed in the state. Asked where she passed the bar, she said, "When I moved to China."
A watchdog group filed a complaint Wednesday asking the State Bar of California to investigate White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, The Associated Press and The Washington Times reported.
The group, Campaign for Accountability, wants the bar to look into whether Zacharia misrepresented herself as a lawyer in violation of California law, the AP said.
Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer, the AP reported. When he announced her hire, President Donald Trump called her "an attorney."
The State Bar of California said it has "no record of Kate Sharon Zacharia or Kate Sharon Black" or any version of her married or maiden names "having been licensed to practice law in California," spokesperson Rick Coca said, according to the AP. The bar said it could not confirm whether it had received the complaint, citing confidentiality laws.
Popular Information, an independent news site, searched bar records in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and found no evidence that Zacharia was admitted to practice law, The Washington Times reported.
On Tuesday, a reporter asked where Zacharia had passed the bar exam. "When I moved to China," she said, New York magazine reported. China's bar exam can be taken only by Chinese citizens, the AP reported.
Zacharia later said in a statement: "I practiced international transactional law, with all the appropriate credentials," New York magazine reported.
Her LinkedIn profile says she worked as an associate at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013, the AP reported. She received her law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011, the AP said.
"In California, calling yourself a lawyer without a license isn't puffery; it's a crime," Michelle Kuppersmith, the group's executive director, said in a statement, the AP and The Washington Times reported.
The White House defended her. Communications director Steven Cheung said Zacharia was "uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people," the AP reported.
What we know: The State Bar says it has no record of Zacharia being licensed in California.
What we don't: Whether the bar will open an investigation, and what credentials Zacharia says she holds.
Where outlets agree The AP and The Washington Times both report that Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Wednesday and that California's State Bar has no record of Zacharia being licensed.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.