Europe10 October, 20262 min read
Greeks In Athens React To Accusations Against Kimberly Guilfoyle Over $100K American Express Bill
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State Department watchdog is investigating Guilfoyle over alleged $100,000 credit card payment request. Donor alleges Guilfoyle asked for payment in exchange for access to top officials.
6 outlets told this the same way.
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Greece Exasperation
Greeks in Athens expressed exasperation and cynicism about accusations involving U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, after a Republican donor said she asked him to pay her American Express bill in exchange for access to senior Trump administration officials. Petros Malliaros, a 35-year-old freelance lighting technician, said, “Greece is not a major power,” and added, “We have to get along with the U.S. and whatever representatives it chooses to send us.”
Anna Markaki, a 38-year-old school teacher, said the accusations were “hardly a shock,” and she added of President Trump, “He probably thinks she’s done a good job.” Pavlos Iliopoulos, a 47-year-old pizza store owner, shrugged it off by saying, “Greece is a small country and pretty much has to play along with the U.S.”
$100K Allegations
Eric Deters, a Trump donor, accused Kimberly Guilfoyle of asking him to pay her $100,000 credit card bill, and he told ABC News, “It was all quid pro quo.” Deters alleged that Guilfoyle asked for the payment in exchange for access to top Trump officials, and ABC News reported that Deters said Guilfoyle wrote, “Honey please I need you to get this done for me today,” in a message about the desired credit card payment.
Guilfoyle’s attorney disputed the messages’ authenticity to the Wall Street Journal, but the attorney did not provide specifics, while the U.S. embassy in Greece said Guilfoyle’s “career in and out of public service is guided by deep and abiding values.” Vice President JD Vance said he disapproves of people “selling access” to government officials, and he denied knowledge about the particular instance being referenced.
Watchdog Probe
NBC News reported that the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General is investigating U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and the embassy she leads, after two people familiar with the decision confirmed the probe.
Deters told NBC News, “She was so desperate for that $100,000. It was a quid pro quo,” and NBC News reported that Deters provided a PDF document of texts and Signal messages with Guilfoyle.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “I don’t even know if what you’re reporting is true,” while he was departing Athens, Greece, and he added, “So it’s just not going to work that way, and it will certainly not going to work that way when I’m sitting in another country.”
The State Department inspector general’s office spokesperson told NBC News that the watchdog does not confirm, deny or comment on investigations, and NBC News reported that watchdog investigations into potential ethics violations by U.S. ambassadors are rare, but not unprecedented.