Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says
- Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, failed the California bar exam, according to a senior admin official—a fact that clashes with her 'attorney' billing.
- The White House insists she's a 'lawyer' in some technical sense, but actual lawyers note that 'lawyer' generally means 'passed the bar.'
- Watchdogs have filed a criminal complaint asking California to probe whether Zacharia's past self-descriptions crossed into unauthorized practice of law.
- White House flacks dismiss critics as 'rabid numbskulls' with TDS, while offering zero proof of her legal credentials beyond a China gig that locals say requires citizenship.
- The State Bar of California confirms no license and no pass-list appearance—so much for 'whip smart.'
Brief Summary
In a stunning display of credential theater, the White House confirmed that its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, flunked the California bar exam—yet still got hired to lecture the American people on truth and clarity. The administration's defense boils down to a semantic shrug: 'lawyer' is a vibe, not a license, apparently. But legal experts sneer that the term is traditionally reserved for those who actually passed the test, not those who merely dabble in PowerPoint presentations about law.
Why This Matters
This matters because the person tasked with spinning the nation's news can't credibly claim the title she's used to boost her own bio. If the bar can't be passed, can we trust her to pass along accurate information? More practically, the complaint filed by watchdogs could spiral into a criminal probe—unauthorized practice of law is no joke in California, punishable by jail time. That would make for a very awkward press briefing.