US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle is facing growing scrutiny over allegations concerning her conduct and management of the US Embassy in Athens, amid calls for further investigation into her activities.
The allegations include claims about her treatment of embassy staff, travel arrangements, relationships with private business interests and the use of her diplomatic position.
Reports of an alleged State Department Office of Inspector General investigation have emerged alongside separate scrutiny from members of Congress. The State Department OIG has not publicly confirmed or denied an investigation into Guilfoyle, saying it does not comment on investigative matters.
Congressional Pressure Mounts
The controversy has already prompted Democratic lawmakers to seek answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Rubio requesting an immediate review of allegations that Guilfoyle improperly advocated for a foreign company and allowed a registered lobbyist to participate in official US government meetings.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks has also called for answers over reports concerning Guilfoyle’s dealings with Greek business interests and her alleged comments about US influence over foreign governments. He said removal should be considered if the allegations are substantiated.
Questions Over Business Connections
A major part of the scrutiny concerns Guilfoyle’s relationship with Greek-American lobbyist Christos Marafatsos.
Congressional correspondence cites reporting that Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist for Greek construction and energy interests, accompanied Guilfoyle to a number of official meetings with senior US and foreign officials.
Shaheen questioned whether such access created potential conflicts of interest, while Meeks cited concerns that Guilfoyle may have promoted the interests of Greek companies during diplomatic engagements.
The allegations are particularly significant because Guilfoyle’s role involves representing US government interests rather than private commercial interests.
Allegations About Embassy Management
Reports have also raised questions about Guilfoyle’s management style inside the Athens embassy.
Sources cited in reports have described an allegedly difficult workplace environment and accused the ambassador of verbally confronting staff and threatening dismissals.
There have also been claims that embassy personnel were reassigned or demoted following disagreements with Guilfoyle.
These accounts have not been independently established as findings against the ambassador, and Guilfoyle has not publicly accepted the allegations.
Claims About Travel and Official Resources
Guilfoyle has also faced questions over her use of private aircraft and other aspects of her lifestyle while serving as ambassador.
The reports have prompted demands for greater scrutiny of flight authorisations, personal financial disclosures and the use of government resources.
The broader controversy follows earlier reporting about Guilfoyle’s social engagements in Greece and her appearances at high-end venues and events.
New Questions Follow $100,000 Payment Allegations
The controversy intensified after The Wall Street Journal reported messages that allegedly showed Guilfoyle seeking a $100,000 payment from Trump donor Eric Deters to cover an American Express bill before her Senate confirmation.
According to the Journal, the payment was not ultimately made. The report said Guilfoyle allegedly sought the transaction in a way that would avoid creating a paper trail.
Guilfoyle’s attorney has disputed the authenticity and interpretation of the messages, arguing that payments involving Deters related to contracted speaking engagements.
Rubio Declines to Discuss Allegations
The controversy surfaced as Rubio visited Athens for the latest US-Greece Strategic Dialogue.
When reporters asked the secretary of state about the allegations against Guilfoyle, he declined to address them, saying the setting was not appropriate for discussing the issue. The Associated Press reported that Rubio nevertheless expressed confidence in the US embassy’s work in Greece.
Rubio’s visit focused on broader US-Greece relations, including defence, energy and regional security cooperation.
Allegations Extend Beyond Embassy Management
Separate reporting has also raised questions about comments Guilfoyle allegedly made regarding political developments in Romania and the possibility of US influence over governments in the region.
The claims have generated political controversy in both Greece and Romania, although they remain disputed.
The Wall Street Journal reporting cited by congressional lawmakers has led to calls for clarification about whether Guilfoyle improperly discussed US influence over allied governments.
State Department Oversight Remains Unclear
The US State Department’s Office of Inspector General says it provides independent oversight of the department and conducts investigations where appropriate. Its public position is that it does not confirm, deny or comment on investigative matters.
As a result, claims of a formal OIG investigation into Guilfoyle have not been publicly confirmed by the watchdog.
Her attorney has also rejected suggestions of wrongdoing, while the State Department has not publicly announced a formal disciplinary action against the ambassador.
Guilfoyle Continues Her Diplomatic Duties
Despite the controversy, Guilfoyle remains US ambassador to Greece and has continued appearing at official diplomatic events.
Her position places her at the centre of a strategically important US-Greece relationship involving defence cooperation, energy policy and regional security.
For now, the allegations, congressional requests for answers and reports of possible inspector-general scrutiny remain separate strands of a wider controversy.
The outcome will depend on what, if anything, formal investigations or reviews establish about Guilfoyle’s conduct and whether any of the allegations are substantiated.
