Watchdog Seeks California Bar Review of Press Secretary’s Lawyer Claims

Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS A watchdog has turned up the heat on Katie Zacharia over her dubious claims of being a lawyer.

The Campaign for Accountability has asked the State Bar of California to investigate the new White House press secretary’s claims that she is an attorney after a report raised red flags about her background.

In a letter dated October 14, the watchdog asked the State Bar to probe whether Zacharia, a California resident, violated sections of the California Business and Professions Code that bar people from practicing law without an active license.

The group cited reporting by Popular Information’s Judd Legum that there is no evidence Zacharia ever passed a bar exam or has been admitted to practice law in any state—contrary to her repeated claims of being a lawyer.

“If that reporting is accurate, Ms.

Zacharia has repeatedly held herself out to the public as entitled to practice law without a license to do so, conduct California law treats as a crime,” the watchdog wrote.

“Ms.

Zacharia now speaks for the President of the United States from the White House podium.

She has relied on her legal pedigree to give her credibility both in that role and to her statements as a television legal commentator,” it continued.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The State Bar of California said it could not confirm whether it has received any complaint or is conducting any investigation, citing confidentiality laws.

“Disciplinary investigations become public if and when a notice of disciplinary charges is filed with the State Bar Court or when a stipulation to a particular level of discipline is accepted and filed by the Court,” a spokesperson said.

Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine Caruso Law School in 2011.

That same year, she moved to Beijing, China, to join her husband Tyler, who had already been living there.