U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle may soon face a Senate investigation. This comes after a Wall Street Journal report claimed she asked a donor to pay off $100,000 in personal credit card debt. The request allegedly happened before her Senate confirmation last year. Senator John Barrasso says an inquiry is likely to follow these new claims.
The report details a specific deal involving donor Eric Deters. Guilfoyle allegedly asked him to pay her bill directly to the credit card company. She reportedly urged him to leave no paper trail of the transaction. In exchange, she supposedly offered to help him reach top administration officials. Deters says he never actually made the payment.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso spoke on CBS News about the situation. He told the network that “what we’ve seen in the reports is very troubling, it’s concerning.” Barrasso added that “I’m sure there’s gonna be an investigation.” He believes the State Department should lead the initial probe. He also noted that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have oversight on the matter.
Barrasso declared that the public possesses the right to know what was found. He described the situation as “quite a bit of concern.” Fox News reported that Barrasso’s comments signal a shift in how the party views the ambassador. The State Department and Senator James Risch have been asked for comment on a possible probe. The Office of Inspector General has already opened a separate look into her conduct in Greece.
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering removing Guilfoyle from her post. He told reporters on Monday that “we’re looking at it.” He also said plainly that “we’re not happy.” The Associated Press cited a senior official who said both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “extremely pissed off” by the allegations.
Rubio had previously defended Guilfoyle as a strong ambassador before these reports came out. He pushed back against the media coverage on Thursday. According to reports, reporters believe that any information from a source they report becomes the gospel. He repeated, “It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me.” He added, “That’s not the way we do things.”
Guilfoyle has denied any wrongdoing through her attorneys. Her lawyers say the $100,000 was payment for services like speaking engagements. They claim it was not an exchange for help with personal tax or legal matters. They also denied claims about her travel on private planes.
Previous reports from The Daily Mail alleged a luxury lifestyle in Greece. These included claims of mistreating staff and close ties to energy firms. The latest story about the credit card debt adds to the scrutiny she faces. Deters maintains he never furnished the money. The Washington Examiner notes that Guilfoyle was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. until they split in 2024. The Senate confirmed her appointment to the Athens role last year.
