WIRED: Mining Firm's Claim About Katie Zacharia Role Unapproved
A press release saying Katie Zacharia joined NovaRed Mining's advisory board remained on the company's website as of Friday, though she says it was fake.
Katie Zacharia, the former White House press secretary and Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, was announced as joining the advisory board of NovaRed Mining, then a copper-and-gold exploration company in Vancouver, Canada, according to a June 24 release issued by the company. When asked on Friday whether she was still on the board, Zacharia said, "That was fake."
According to WIRED, the release was not approved by Zacharia and was issued without her consent, according to Sam Amsterdam. The press release claiming she was joining the company remained on the website as of Friday. An archived version of the site showed Zacharia listed under management as of at least July.
The June 24 release said Zacharia was joining the advisory board alongside Kristi Noem, the former Department of Homeland Security secretary, whose own appointment to the Canadian mining company's advisory board triggered an outcry among Canadians. Zacharia had worked under Noem at DHS as deputy assistant press secretary for public affairs for about a month.
Valentin Saitarli, NRED's chief technology officer who is onboarding as CEO, confirmed that discussions about a role for Zacharia took place but never materialized. Earlier this month, NRED announced it was pivoting away from its Wilmac Copper-Gold Project and putting all resources into developing and commercializing MetalCore, an AI-assisted mineral exploration platform.
The discrepancies add to questions about Zacharia's public record. In background reported previously, Zacharia spent much of her final day as White House press secretary attempting to explain her past, never passed the California bar despite claiming to be an attorney for much of her career, and held a role as an affiliate marketer for Beachbody, a fitness MLM, WIRED reported.
Quick answers
What did Katie Zacharia say about the NovaRed Mining advisory board?
Asked on Friday whether she was still on the board, she said, "That was fake."
Is the press release still on the company's website?
Yes, the press release claiming Zacharia was joining the company remained on the website as of Friday.
Who else was named in the June 24 release?
Kristi Noem, the former Department of Homeland Security secretary, was also announced as joining the advisory board.