Katie Zacharia Fired After NRED AI Mining Role Disputed — SkimNews
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- Katie Zacharia was fired five days after becoming White House press secretary, following questions about her professional background and qualifications.
- Katie Zacharia claimed to be an attorney despite never passing the California bar, a fact she later acknowledged during her short tenure.
- NRED Intelligent Mining issued a June 24 press release stating Zacharia joined its advisory board, though she later called the announcement 'fake' and said it was issued without her consent.
- Sam Amsterdam, a media strategist and friend of Zacharia, confirmed the NRED press release was unauthorized, while noting discussions about her joining the company had occurred.
- Valentin Saitarli, NRED’s incoming CEO, said Zacharia’s advisory role was discussed but 'never materialized,' comparing it to signing up for a gym but never attending.
- Phil Ehr, a retired Navy commander and former NRED advisor, resigned after Kristi Noem and Zacharia were added to the board without consultation, citing Noem’s controversial status.
- NRED Intelligent Mining pivoted from copper-gold exploration to developing an AI-driven mineral platform called MetalCore, rebranding from NovaRed and adding defense-adjacent figures to its advisory board.
Why it matters: Zacharia’s rapid ouster and the disputed NRED affiliation expose vulnerabilities in vetting for high-level communications roles, while NRED’s shift to AI mining with politically connected advisors—despite lacking technical experts—raises questions about the company’s credibility and intent, especially given its minimal cash reserves and lack of revenue.
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