Guilfoyle quits as ambassador to Greece after White House asks
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday as U.S. ambassador to Greece, soon after the White House said it had asked her to step down. The move follows Wall Street Journal reports that she sought $100,000 from a Trump donor before her confirmation hearing. Guilfoyle called the allegations false and said she intends to vigorously defend her reputation and integrity.
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday, Oct. 13, as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Her departure came soon after the White House said publicly that it had asked her to leave, ending days of speculation about her future, AP reported. New press secretary Katie Zacharia made the announcement at her first media briefing. "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign," she said, according to the Washington Examiner. The Examiner quoted her calling Guilfoyle "a wonderful asset to the team," while DW quoted her calling Guilfoyle "an incredible asset to the team."
Guilfoyle posted on X that serving in Athens was "the honor of a lifetime," DW reported. "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity," she wrote, AP and DW reported.
Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, have said the money she sought from a donor was payment for past speaking work that had not been paid, AP reported. They also said she followed State Department rules on travel.
Since late September, the Journal has reported a series of claims about her conduct. It said she asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing last year, and promised him access to officials. The Journal also reported that she told guests at a reception that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government. The donor, Eric Deters, has called it "absolutely a quid pro quo," DW reported.
Pressure on the administration had been building for more than a week. AP earlier reported that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were angry over her conduct. Top Democrats in Congress have called for an investigation, and a U.S. official told AP the State Department's inspector general was looking into the claims.
Guilfoyle is a former cable TV host and California prosecutor who was married to Democrat Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco, and she was later engaged to Donald Trump Jr.
What we know: The White House asked Guilfoyle to resign, she did, and she denies the claims.
What we don't: Whether the inspector general will open a formal probe, and who will replace her in Athens.
Where outlets agree AP and DW both report that Guilfoyle called the allegations false and vowed to vigorously defend her name.
Where they differ The Washington Examiner quotes Zacharia calling Guilfoyle "a wonderful asset to the team," while DW quotes her calling Guilfoyle "an incredible asset to the team."