Key facts
- Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle allegedly asked a Trump donor to pay her $100,000 American Express bill.
- The donor, Eric Deters, claims Guilfoyle promised him access to the Trump administration in exchange for the payment.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to comment on the allegations.
- Democrats have requested Rubio investigate Guilfoyle's conduct.
- A lawyer for Guilfoyle disputed the authenticity of messages shared by Deters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday dismissed reports alleging that Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle used her position to solicit a $100,000 payment from a Trump donor to cover her American Express bill.
Rubio, visiting Athens, told reporters that the allegations, published by the Wall Street Journal, were not "the gospel." He refused to answer specific questions about Guilfoyle's conduct, instead praising the work of the US embassy in Greece and calling Guilfoyle a "strong ambassador."
Democrats on Capitol Hill have expressed concern over Guilfoyle's actions. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, sent a letter to Rubio on Tuesday urging an "immediate review" of Guilfoyle's conduct. Shaheen stated that such actions "do not serve US credibility overseas and risk undermining US diplomacy."
Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, had previously requested information from Rubio in September regarding Guilfoyle's conduct, her business dealings in Greece, and her relationship with a lobbyist. Meeks wrote that if the reports were accurate, Guilfoyle was "unfit to represent the United States abroad and should be removed from her position."
The latest allegations stem from a Wall Street Journal report detailing messages where Guilfoyle allegedly pleaded with donor Eric Deters to pay her credit card bill. Deters shared these messages with the newspaper, claiming Guilfoyle promised to be "your Trump ride or die, forever and ever" if he paid the balance. Deters stated he never made the payment.
A lawyer for Guilfoyle, however, disputed the authenticity of the messages shared by Deters. The lawyer also told the newspaper that Guilfoyle was "owed a balance" for travel and speaking engagements prior to her nomination.
Concerns about Guilfoyle's conduct were first raised in September when the Wall Street Journal reported she had allegedly invited Greek lobbyists to official diplomatic meetings and promoted the business interests of a specific Greek construction and energy company.