Kimberly Guilfoyle Faces Possible Probe Over $100K Allegation
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, is facing growing scrutiny in Washington after a Republican donor accused her of asking him to pay off $100,000 of her credit card debt shortly before her Senate confirmation.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said Sunday that he expects an investigation into the claims, calling the reports "very troubling."
The $100,000 Allegation
Republican donor Eric Deters says Guilfoyle asked him to send $100,000 to American Express to pay down her credit card bill days before her July 2025 confirmation hearing, Newsweek reported.
According to messages reported by The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly told Deters in a Signal message, "It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express." Deters has claimed she offered to help him reach top administration officials in return.
Deters said he never made the payment and has described the request as a "quid pro quo."
Guilfoyle Denies Wrongdoing
Through her attorneys, Guilfoyle has denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyers say Deters owes her about $150,000 for speeches and consulting work, and that she was trying to collect a debt, not offering access in exchange for money.
Her legal team also said she has followed State Department ethics, gift-reporting and travel rules. The U.S. Embassy in Greece has called the allegations unsubstantiated. None of the claims against her have been proven.
Investigations and Senate Oversight
Barrasso, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, addressed the allegations on CBS's "Face the Nation." "What we've seen in the reports is very troubling," he said. Asked whether he was comfortable with the alleged request, he answered, "No, I'm not."
He said he assumes the State Department will investigate and that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would likely provide oversight, adding that the public deserves to know what investigators find, according to Fox News.
The State Department's Office of Inspector General is already reportedly investigating Guilfoyle and the U.S. Embassy in Greece. The Wall Street Journal reported that the watchdog is looking into whether she received gifts or favors from private businessmen.
Other reports have raised questions about her ties to Greek business figures, including private jet travel to Davos and a Paris hotel stay reportedly paid for by a Greek shipping executive. Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks has questioned her promotion of Aktor Group, a Greek construction and energy company. Lawyers for Aktor have denied that she improperly promoted the company. Meeks has said that if the allegations are accurate, Guilfoyle would be unfit to represent the U.S. abroad.
Trump and Rubio Weigh In
President Donald Trump appeared to distance himself from the controversy when asked about it on Friday. "I just heard about it. It's too bad," he said, adding that Guilfoyle "was always very nice."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he did not know whether the reports were true and called Guilfoyle a "strong ambassador." Still, the Associated Press reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that Trump and Rubio are very unhappy and are weighing whether to remove her from the post.
Vice President JD Vance said the allegations are only accusations for now and that the facts should be established first. Anyone who did something wrong, he said, should face consequences.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and prosecutor, was a prominent Trump ally and was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. The pair split in 2024, and Trump Jr. later tied the knot with Bettina Anderson. The Senate confirmed Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece in 2025.
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