Kimberly Guilfoyle faces renewed scrutiny over her conduct as U.S. ambassador to Greece after a Donald Trump donor alleged she offered him access to administration officials in exchange for paying a $100,000 American Express bill. The allegation has prompted calls for an investigation, while her lawyer disputes the messages behind the claim.
Donald Trump donor says the request was tied to promised access to administration officials
Eric Deters, a lawyer and former congressional candidate, made the accusation during a Thursday interview with MS NOW. He said Guilfoyle approached him last year, before her Senate confirmation hearing, and offered him connections to government officials if he covered the outstanding balance. Deters called the arrangement “absolutely” a quid pro quo and said he never owed her money. Deters also called Guilfoyle a “grifter.”
Messages Deters shared with The Wall Street Journal reportedly show Guilfoyle promising he would be her “Trump ride or die” if he arranged the payment. In another exchange, she allegedly urged him to stop “papering“ their conversations and use Signal instead, warning that written records could jeopardize her ambassadorship.
Jesse Binnall, Guilfoyle’s attorney, challenged the messages’ authenticity in comments to the Journal. He also maintained that Guilfoyle was owed money for travel and speaking engagements she completed before her nomination. Deters rejected that explanation, saying he did not owe her a balance (via The Guardian).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to address the latest allegations when reporters questioned him in Athens on Wednesday and Thursday. He nevertheless called Guilfoyle “a strong ambassador.” Vice President JD Vance also expressed reservations about the alleged arrangement but said he “doesn’t know the full details.”
The dispute follows earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal that Guilfoyle invited Greek lobbyists to official diplomatic meetings and promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company. Those allegations had already drawn concern from Democratic lawmakers overseeing foreign affairs.
