White House Press Secretary Admits She Never Passed the Bar Exam

Zacharia, appointed by President Donald Trump last week, graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011. Her qualifications came under fire after she provided vague responses regarding her bar admission status. During a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, she confirmed she sat for the exam but did not pass, noting she never attempted a retake. She attributed the failure to life circumstances, citing a move to China and the demands of raising four children as reasons for abandoning a legal career.

While Zacharia defended her use of the title—claiming associates assured her that her law degree and experience at a Beijing firm justified the label—ethics watchdogs disagree. The Campaign for Accountability has urged the California Bar Association to investigate, asserting that holding oneself out as an attorney without a license constitutes a crime in the state. Zacharia maintains she only provided legal analysis rather than legal advice, insisting she was careful in how she represented her professional status. She recently replaced Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August.