New press secretary questioned on credentials

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia held her first press briefing on Tuesday. A reporter asked President Trump where Zacharia had passed the bar exam.

Zacharia's answer raised confusion

When asked which state she passed the bar in, Zacharia answered: When I moved to China. State bar exams are generally administered in person within the jurisdiction.

“When I moved to China”

No record of bar license found

Zacharia does not appear in the State Bar of California's attorney database or the D.C.Bar's member directory.Popular Information searched all fifty states and Washington, D.C., finding no evidence she is licensed to practice law.

Zacharia's legal background explained

Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University in two thousand seven with a bachelor's degree in political science and government, then received a law degree from the university's Caruso School of Law in two thousand eleven.

Work history in China and California

After graduating, Zacharia moved to China with her husband for his job at an American private equity firm.She worked on international transaction law.

White House defends Zacharia's qualifications

In a statement, Zacharia said she practiced international transaction law with all the appropriate credentials but did not say if she passed the bar in any state.

“She is uniquely qualified and whip smart”