Trump ousts envoy over alleged deal to trade influence for hefty credit card bill

The Trump administration has asked US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign after reports alleging improper conduct. The move follows claims over a USD 100,000 bill, business ties and calls for an investigation.

In Short

• Trump administration asks US ambassador to Greece Guilfoyle to resign
• Allegations include offering access to officials for paying $100,000 credit card bill
• Guilfoyle's lawyers deny wrongdoing, say payments were for past services

US President Donald Trump's administration has asked its ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, to resign following a series of reports alleging improper conduct, including claims that she offered access to senior officials in exchange for the payment of a hefty credit card bill. The White House announced the decision on Tuesday.

White House new press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the move during a briefing, saying the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign. "She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well," Zacharia said. The announcement followed Trump's public expression of dissatisfaction with the reports, when he was asked whether he was considering removing her from the post.

"Well, we're looking at it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. "We're not happy."

The allegations have put Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor, under growing scrutiny over her conduct before and during her tenure in Athens. She was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the US President's eldest son, before their relationship ended. She was later appointed US ambassador to Greece.

Her lawyers have denied wrongdoing, arguing that some of the payments at the centre of the controversy were for professional services provided before her nomination as ambassador.

$100,000 CREDIT CARD BILL AT CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY

The most serious allegations concern a reported request for financial help from a wealthy supporter of Trump. According to The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay a USD 100,000 credit card bill shortly before her ambassadorial confirmation hearing. In return, she allegedly offered to use her influence within the administration to arrange access to senior officials.

The newspaper cited text messages in its report.

Guilfoyle's lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, rejected the accusations in a statement cited by the Associated Press. They said the money she sought was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements that took place before she was nominated as ambassador but had not yet been paid for.

They also denied allegations of improper conduct involving her use of private aircraft. According to the lawyers, Guilfoyle had sought and received State Department guidance before such trips and complied with the department's travel regulations.

Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the reports herself.

LUXURY TRIPS, BUSINESS TIES AND DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT

The controversy goes beyond the alleged payment request. Reports published by The Journal since late September have raised questions about Guilfoyle's conduct at diplomatic events and her dealings with Greek business interests.

One report alleged that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the US could undermine the Greek government if it chose to do so. The newspaper also reported that she promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company and allowed its lobbyist to attend private diplomatic meetings.

Another report said Guilfoyle was angered after she was not invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. It also described her boasting about luxury travel to France with energy company executives.

Separately, Britain's Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the US Embassy in Athens and pushed the boundaries of conduct expected of Washington's senior representative in Greece.

RUBIO DEFENDED AMBASSADOR

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously defended Guilfoyle as the allegations began emerging. During a visit to Athens last week, he described her as a strong ambassador. However, Rubio declined to confirm the reports and criticised journalists who questioned him about the controversy. As he prepared to leave Athens, he accused reporters of treating information from unnamed sources as established fact.

"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.

Guilfoyle was present as Rubio made the remarks.

DEMOCRATS CALL FOR INVESTIGATION

The allegations have also drawn calls for congressional scrutiny. Democratic lawmakers Gregory Meeks, Jeanne Shaheen and Robert Garcia have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle's conduct.

Meeks is the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Shaheen holds the same position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Garcia is the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

Guilfoyle's departure would carry diplomatic importance beyond the controversy surrounding her personal conduct. Greece is an important NATO ally of the US and provides military facilities that support security operations in the eastern Mediterranean. It also leads a European Union maritime mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

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