RismadarVoice Reporters
October 14, 2026
Newly appointed White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is facing questions over her professional qualifications after a United States watchdog organisation filed a complaint asking California’s State Bar to investigate whether she improperly presented herself as a licensed lawyer.
The complaint, submitted on Wednesday by Campaign for Accountability, followed reports that no public record had been found confirming Zacharia’s admission to practise law in any US jurisdiction.
The organisation alleged that Zacharia had repeatedly described herself as an attorney during television appearances and previously held a position identified as general counsel at a California-based nonprofit organisation.
Its executive director, Michelle Kuppersmith, called for an examination of Zacharia’s professional claims and whether they complied with California’s legal licensing requirements.
The controversy intensified following Zacharia’s first White House press briefing on Tuesday, October 13, when journalists questioned her about her legal qualifications.
Asked where she had passed the bar examination, Zacharia responded by referring to her move to China, without identifying a US jurisdiction in which she had been admitted to practise.
Zacharia subsequently maintained that she had worked in international transaction law with the appropriate qualifications.
However, questions remain about the nature of those credentials and whether they authorised her to practise law in the United States.
The California State Bar confirmed that it had no record of Zacharia holding a licence under either her current or maiden name.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 and previously worked in Beijing. However, obtaining a law degree does not automatically confer the right to practise law in California.
The watchdog’s complaint cited California laws restricting the unauthorised practice of law and asked regulators to examine whether Zacharia’s public statements and previous professional responsibilities breached those provisions.
President Donald Trump had described Zacharia as an attorney when announcing her appointment as White House press secretary.
The White House has defended her appointment and professional background, while Trump praised her performance following her first appearance before journalists.
Zacharia’s debut briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she answered questions from three news organisations.
Her appointment followed the departure of former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The complaint has brought renewed attention to the distinction between possessing a law degree, undertaking legal-related work and holding the professional licence required to practise law in a particular jurisdiction.
As of Wednesday, there was no confirmed regulatory finding that Zacharia had violated California law.
The complaint remains a request for investigation, and any determination concerning her professional conduct would require examination by the appropriate authorities.
