White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia did not pass the California bar exam after graduating from law school, according to a senior administration official. The confirmation comes amid growing questions regarding Zacharia’s use of the title "lawyer" and her legal credentials, which she has used in her media career and previous statements. While the official argued that Zacharia can technically be considered a "lawyer," independent legal experts and State Bar records indicate she is not licensed to practice law in California.
Zacharia, a graduate of Pepperdine Law, has previously stated she practiced law in China. However, legal experts consulted by NBC News noted that only Chinese citizens are permitted to sit for the Chinese bar exam, suggesting Zacharia may have consulted on cross-border legal issues rather than practiced as a licensed attorney in China. NBC News has found no evidence that Zacharia is licensed to practice law in any U.S. state. The discrepancy in titles has drawn attention after President Donald Trump referred to Zacharia as an "attorney" in a Truth Social post announcing her appointment.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of the administration argue that Zacharia’s failure to disclose her lack of bar passage constitutes a misrepresentation of her qualifications. The Democracy Defenders Fund, a group that frequently opposes the Trump administration, sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and George Cardona, the chief trial attorney for the State Bar of California, requesting an investigation into whether Zacharia "engaged in the unauthorized practice of law." The letter, signed by Norm Eisen and Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, stated that "falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer is a criminal offense, punishable by fine or incarceration of up to a year in jail."
Legal professionals cited by NBC News emphasized that the term "lawyer" is widely understood by the public to refer to someone who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice. This perspective contrasts with the internal White House justification, suggesting that the distinction between "lawyer" and "attorney" may not hold up under public scrutiny or legal definitions in California.
What the Right Is Saying
Senior administration officials and conservative commentators have defended Zacharia’s credentials, arguing that the distinction between "lawyer" and "attorney" is a matter of semantics rather than deception. A senior administration official stated that Zacharia could "technically be considered a 'lawyer,' though not an attorney," referencing her legal education and experience. In an interview with Real America’s Voice, Zacharia stated that she "consulted for a very long time many people in the field" and was told it was acceptable to label herself a "lawyer" but not "attorney at law" or "Katie Zacharia esquire," provided she offered "legal analysis, not legal advice."
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed critics as "a radical leftist-organization run by rabid numbskulls suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," referring to the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability. Cheung described Zacharia as "a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team" who is "uniquely qualified and whip smart." Zacharia herself denied misrepresenting her qualifications, stating, "I was very careful how I executed this and I never came across as someone who was an attorney at law."
What the Numbers Show
According to the State Bar of California, Zacharia never appeared on a California bar exam pass list. The State Bar confirmed that California Business and Professions Code section 6126 makes it unlawful for anyone who is not an active licensee to advertise or hold themselves out as practicing law in the state. Due to confidentiality laws, the State Bar can only disclose whether an individual passed the exam, not whether they sat for it. NBC News reported that the State Bar has no records of Zacharia being licensed to practice law in California. Additionally, legal experts confirmed that foreign nationals are generally ineligible to sit for the Chinese bar exam, which requires citizenship.
The Bottom Line
The controversy centers on the legal and professional definitions of "lawyer" versus "attorney" and the transparency of public officials' credentials. While the White House maintains that Zacharia’s self-description was accurate and vetted, the State Bar of California’s records indicate she is not a licensed practitioner in the state where she previously resided. The outcome of the request for an investigation by the California Attorney General and the State Bar remains pending, as the State Bar cited confidentiality requirements when asked if an investigation was underway. This issue may continue to generate political debate regarding the qualifications of senior White House staff.