Katie Zacharia left her job as White House press secretary on October 16, after questions about her legal credentials overshadowed her first week. Reuters reported that two U.S. officials said she had been fired, updating a controversy that began shortly after President Donald Trump announced her appointment.
The departure followed her acknowledgment in an October 15 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that she had not passed the bar exam and had not taken it again. She earned a law degree from Pepperdine University in 2011, Reuters reported, citing the university.
Those facts support reporting on her qualifications and public statements. They do not, by themselves, establish that she deliberately deceived Americans or committed a crime. The watchdog complaint reviewed for this report requests an investigation; it does not announce a finding by regulators.
Katie Zacharia Defended Her Use of “Lawyer”
According to People, Zacharia said in a separate interview that she had consulted people in the legal field about describing herself as a lawyer. She distinguished providing legal analysis from giving legal advice and said she had not presented herself as an attorney at law.
People also reported that she worked on an international practice team at the Zhong Lun law firm in Beijing. Her explanation therefore centers on her education and overseas experience, rather than a U.S. license.
Reuters reported that it could not locate records of her admission to a bar in any U.S. state or the District of Columbia. That is an attributed reporting finding, rather than an independent search of every licensing database by Hourly Times.
Watchdog Asked California Regulators to Investigate
Campaign for Accountability announced on October 14 that it had filed a complaint requesting a State Bar investigation. The group questioned whether her public descriptions of her qualifications violated California law.
The organization pointed to television appearances and other professional claims. It also asked regulators to examine whether her work as general counsel for Fix California amounted to unauthorized legal practice.
These are the complainant’s allegations and requests. The group’s announcement is primary evidence that it sought regulatory action, but it is not a ruling that Zacharia broke the law. I cannot independently confirm a regulatory finding against her from the materials reviewed.
Legal Training and Permission to Practice Differ
The State Bar of California’s guidance on unauthorized practice of law explains that an unlicensed person may not provide services reserved for attorneys. It also explains that some lawyers licensed elsewhere can practice in California in specific circumstances.
That guidance helps explain why a professional title and the work actually performed both matter. It does not resolve the complaint against Zacharia or determine whether her overseas work complied with the rules governing that work.
A Brief Tenure After Trump’s Appointment
The Associated Press reported that Trump announced Katie Zacharia’s selection on October 9. She had worked as a communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group and briefly as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.
She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August. AP reported that Leavitt said she was leaving to spend more time with her children.
Zacharia’s first briefing took place on October 13. The White House issued a release praising the appearance, describing it as an introduction to her tenure and highlighting her presentation of the administration’s record.
AP’s account offered a different assessment, noting the short briefing and limited questioning. Its coverage described her reliance on prepared remarks and the challenge of communicating for a president who frequently delivers his own message.
After leaving, Katie Zacharia praised Trump in a social media statement reported by Sky News. She called working for him an honor but did not explain her departure in that statement. Sky News also reported that she had defended her overseas experience while responding to the criticism. Her public response left the questions about her professional descriptions separate from the confirmed end of her White House tenure.
