White House Press Secretary Admits She Never Passed Any U.S. Bar Exam
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that she never passed any U.S. bar exam, including a failed California attempt in 2011.[1]
Zacharia has described herself as a lawyer in media appearances and on Instagram, and President Trump has publicly referred to her as an attorney.[1] The White House says she is a Pepperdine law graduate who worked on international transaction law in Beijing despite not being a licensed attorney.[1]
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California citing possible violations of California Business and Professions Code Section 6126.[1] The complaint points to public statements and Zacharia's own social media posts as the basis for its request that the bar investigate whether she unlawfully held herself out as an attorney.[1]
The complaint and Zacharia's admission have raised immediate questions about the scope of her prior legal work and whether state bar authorities will open a formal inquiry under California law.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On October 15, 2026, Katie Zacharia said she never passed any U.S. bar exam, including in California where she failed in 2011.
- Zacharia has described herself as a lawyer in media appearances and on Instagram, and President Trump publicly called her an attorney.
- The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint on October 14, 2026, with the State Bar of California citing possible violations of California Business and Professions Code Section 6126.
- The White House says Zacharia is a Pepperdine law graduate who worked on international transaction law in Beijing despite not being a licensed attorney.
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