WASHINGTON: US watchdog Campaign for Accountability asked the State Bar of California on Wednesday to investigate whether White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia misled the public by calling herself a lawyer.
The complaint cites Zacharia’s television appearances and her role as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative nonprofit organisation.
Zacharia defended her legal experience in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP). “I practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials,” she said. Her statement did not identify a US jurisdiction where she held a law licence.
California’s state bar said it had no record of Zacharia holding a licence under either her married or maiden name.
Campaign for Accountability Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith called for the regulator to examine whether Zacharia had misrepresented her credentials. She argued that Zacharia had used the lawyer description to strengthen her credibility as a commentator and spokesperson.
The complaint also asks whether her general counsel work amounted to unauthorised legal practice. It seeks referral of any violations to the appropriate prosecutors.
Campaign for Accountability cited a Popular Information review of licensing records across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. That review found no record of Zacharia’s admission to practise.
When reporters asked on Tuesday where she passed the bar exam, Zacharia referred to her move to China. She did not name a US state.
Her professional profile lists previous work for a law firm in Beijing. Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011.
Read: Karoline Leavitt to Leave White House Press Secretary Role
US President Donald Trump described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment on October 9. He subsequently praised her first appearance as press secretary.
Tuesday’s briefing lasted 14 minutes. Zacharia read extensively from prepared notes and took questions from three news organisations.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, now a television host, compared the appearance to a comedy sketch. Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August.
