Trump's new spokesperson stumbles into controversy

Katie Zacharia's legal credentials questioned after shaky maiden briefing

WASHINGTON:

The White House was facing mounting questions on Wednesday over new press secretary Katie Zacharia's legal credentials, after a faltering first day in the job when she gave an inconclusive answer about where she had passed the bar exam.

A US watchdog group filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, asking it to investigate whether President Donald Trump's spokeswoman – the public face of the administration – had broken the law by repeatedly presenting herself as a lawyer without a license.

Campaign for Accountability said Zacharia had described herself as a lawyer during television appearances. "The State Bar should investigate whether Ms. Zacharia has misled the public about her credentials," said the group's executive director, Michelle Kuppersmith.

Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine University's law school in 2011, but obtaining a law degree does not automatically qualify someone to practice law. Trump described Zacharia as "an attorney" when announcing her appointment Friday.

The controversy followed a rocky first appearance as White House press secretary on Tuesday, when Zacharia read extensively from prepared notes during a briefing lasting just 14 minutes. She took only three questions and stumbled over answers, at one point accidentally referring to the president as her husband.

Trump, however, praised Zacharia's debut, telling reporters: "I thought she was very good." Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August after becoming one of the most prominent public defenders of Trump's second administration. AFP