WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are weighing whether to remove U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following a series of reports alleging misconduct, including actions that could violate the law, before and during her assignment in Athens.
A senior U.S. official said Sunday that Trump and Rubio were “extremely pissed off” over the reported behavior. The official said the administration was expected to decide how to proceed this week, after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday.
The official, who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations, said Rubio was especially frustrated. He had visited Athens the previous week, where Guilfoyle attended most, if not all, of his appearances and welcomed him with a bear hug as the allegations continued to emerge.
The Wall Street Journal has published multiple reports describing what it characterized as questionable conduct by Guilfoyle. The allegations include threatening a Greek official, accepting inappropriate gifts and services, and offering to leverage her influence within the administration in exchange for someone paying a large credit card bill.
Guilfoyle has not publicly responded to the allegations in detail. Her attorney has maintained that she did nothing wrong, while the U.S. Embassy in Athens has appeared to offer her quiet support.
Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle after the first report but has since avoided commenting publicly as additional claims surfaced. On Wednesday, he said, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
However, after another report was published late Wednesday, Rubio reacted angrily to questions about the allegations before departing Athens Thursday. He said he did not know whether the claims were accurate and would not address them without confirmation.
“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things,” Rubio said beside his aircraft. Guilfoyle, who had come to see him off, was present as he spoke.
The senior official said Rubio’s frustration intensified as the number of reports grew.
A second U.S. official, also speaking anonymously about personnel issues, said the State Department’s inspector general was examining the allegations. The claims first began appearing in the Journal late last month and have continued to accumulate.
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The official could not confirm whether a formal inspector general investigation had opened. Inspectors general frequently begin with informal reviews of complaints involving government personnel, and those inquiries do not always develop into full investigations. A formal case could lead to disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
The State Department has declined to comment on whether the inspector general is conducting a probe.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the senior Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees, respectively, have called for an investigation. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has also urged an inquiry.
Since late September, the Journal has reported several allegations involving Guilfoyle. Its initial story said she told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine Greece’s government if it decided to do so. The report also alleged that she promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company and permitted its lobbyist to attend confidential diplomatic meetings.
During Rubio’s Athens visit, the Journal reported, citing text messages, that Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor and supporter to cover a $100,000 credit card bill shortly before her confirmation hearing. In return, she allegedly promised access to administration officials.
The Journal later reported that Guilfoyle became furious after being left off the guest list for a Greek-themed gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. According to the report, she demanded an invitation while discussing luxury trips to France with executives from energy companies.
The British tabloid The Daily Mail separately reported that Guilfoyle had strained relations with employees at the U.S. Embassy in Athens and had tested the limits of conduct expected from Washington’s highest-ranking representative in Greece.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor, was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son.
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