White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia has confirmed she failed the bar examination in the US, a revelation that comes amid scrutiny over her legal qualifications. In an interview with conservative outlet Real America's Voice on 15/10, Zacharia stated she registered for the California bar exam after graduating from Pepperdine University law school in 2011. However, she was "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband.

Zacharia explained her mindset at the time, stating, "We decided to make the most of that time; I would take the bar and see how it went. The result at that time wasn't important, because I knew I wouldn't need this certification in China. We moved not long after."

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia at her first press conference on 13/10. *AFP*

The 41-year-old Zacharia faces scrutiny over her legal qualifications after repeatedly identifying as a lawyer on television and social media without holding a license. The Wall Street Journal on 14/10, citing informed sources, reported that Zacharia "failed" the US bar examination in California in 2011.

During her time in Beijing, Zacharia worked with the international law team at the Zhong Lun law firm. She did not retake the exam upon returning to the US in 2013, citing the need to focus on her first child. She later served as chief legal counsel at a non-profit organization advocating for conservative policies, based in California.

Zacharia maintains that many in the industry affirmed she was qualified to call herself a lawyer without a license, asserting she only provided legal analysis, not "legal advice", based on her law degree and international business law experience in China. "I have been very careful in how I do this", she said.

She previously appeared on Fox News in August to comment on the trial of the suspect in Charlie Kirk's murder, where she identified herself as having "lawyer qualifications" to discuss the case's legal proceedings.

Katie Zacharia (far right) with White House staff at Joint Base Andrews on 13/10. *AP*

At her first White House press conference on 13/10, a reporter asked Zacharia which state she passed the bar exam in. She replied "when I moved to China", later clarifying to the New York Times that she misunderstood the question, believing the reporter was asking about her location after law school graduation.

In a statement to People magazine, Zacharia affirmed she "practiced international transactional law with appropriate qualifications." White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also defended the new Press Secretary, describing her as an excellent, intelligent, and capable staff member, well-equipped to help Americans understand President Trump's administration and activities.

This week, the Campaign for Accountability asked the California State Bar Association to investigate Zacharia. The organization argues that identifying as a lawyer without a license in California "is not merely self-promotion but could constitute a criminal offense."