Trump, Rubio Consider Firing US Ambassador To Greece Amid Misconduct Allegations

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering removing US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following a series of media reports alleging misconduct before and during her tenure in Athens.

A senior US official said on Sunday that Trump and Rubio were “extremely pissed off” over the reported allegations and could decide on the next steps this week, after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Rubio was particularly frustrated because he had visited Athens the previous week, with Guilfoyle attending most of his events as the allegations continued to emerge.

The Wall Street Journal has published a series of reports detailing alleged questionable conduct by Guilfoyle, including threatening a Greek official, accepting improper gifts and services, and offering access to officials in the Trump administration in exchange for payment of a substantial credit card bill.

Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the allegations. Her lawyer has maintained that she did nothing wrong, while the US Embassy in Athens has indicated support for the ambassador.

Rubio Faces Questions Over Allegations

Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle following the first report but has since declined to comment publicly on the growing controversy.

“Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” Rubio said on Wednesday.

However, after another report appeared later that day, Rubio expressed frustration with journalists questioning him about the allegations before leaving Athens on Thursday. He said he could not confirm whether the claims were true and would not comment on unverified reports.

“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,” Rubio told reporters near his aircraft as Guilfoyle watched his departure.

The senior US official said Rubio had become increasingly frustrated as additional reports emerged.

A second US official said the State Department’s inspector general was looking into the allegations, which first appeared in The Wall Street Journal late last month. However, the official could not confirm whether a formal investigation had been launched.

Inspector general offices can conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints against government personnel before deciding whether to open a full investigation that could lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal.

The State Department has declined to comment on the possibility of an inspector general investigation.

Lawmakers Call For Investigation

Senior Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle’s conduct.

Those seeking scrutiny include Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Representative Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The calls for an investigation follow several reports detailing alleged incidents involving Guilfoyle since late September.

The Wall Street Journal’s initial report alleged that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to. The report also alleged that she promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company and allowed its lobbyist to attend private diplomatic meetings.

$100,000 Credit Card Bill Allegation

While Rubio was visiting Athens, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing text messages, that Guilfoyle had asked a Trump donor and supporter to pay a $100,000 credit card bill shortly before her confirmation hearing.

According to the report, she allegedly offered access to officials in the Trump administration in return for the payment.

The newspaper subsequently reported that Guilfoyle had been angered after being excluded from a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. The report also described her alleged references to luxury travel in France with energy company executives.

Separately, British tabloid The Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the US Embassy in Athens and had allegedly pushed the boundaries of conduct expected of Washington’s top diplomatic representative in Greece.

The allegations have not been established as findings of wrongdoing, and Guilfoyle’s lawyer has denied that she acted improperly.

Who Is Kimberly Guilfoyle?

Guilfoyle is a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor who previously served as a prominent political supporter of Trump. She was also once engaged to Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

Her potential removal would come amid growing scrutiny of her conduct as US ambassador to Greece, with the White House and State Department yet to announce a final decision on her future.