Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to comment on a report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked a donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill before her confirmation hearing. The allegation, published by The Wall Street Journal, suggests Guilfoyle promised the donor access to administration officials in exchange for the payment. Rubio stated he was aware of the report but did not know if the claims were true.
The report indicates the request was made just prior to Guilfoyle's confirmation process, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest or improper conduct by a senior diplomatic appointee. Rubio made these remarks in Athens, Greece, where he was visiting for diplomatic engagements. He declined to address the specific allegations while on foreign soil, emphasizing the work of the embassy instead.
What the Right Is Saying
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the embassy's performance, stating, "Suffice it to say our embassy here is doing a great job. Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." He expressed skepticism about the reliability of the media report, telling reporters, "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."
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., has denied any wrongdoing. Rubio has previously defended her appointment and has not indicated whether he is prepared to open a formal investigation into the new allegations.
What the Left Is Saying
Congressional Democrats have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle's conduct. The top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated that the allegations warrant scrutiny.
These lawmakers are already examining earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal which claimed Guilfoyle acted improperly while serving as the top U.S. envoy to Greece. Those reports alleged that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business interests of a specific Greek construction and energy company, and allowed that company's lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.
What the Numbers Show
The central allegation involves a $100,000 credit card bill that Ambassador Guilfoyle reportedly asked a donor to pay. This financial request occurred just before her confirmation hearing, according to The Wall Street Journal. The source of this specific dollar amount and the timing relative to the confirmation process are the primary quantitative details in the report.
The Bottom Line
The situation places the State Department under increased scrutiny regarding the conduct of its diplomatic appointees. With Democratic committee leaders calling for an investigation and the Secretary of State declining to confirm or deny the report, the issue is likely to move to congressional oversight channels.
Rubio's refusal to engage with the allegations during his foreign trip suggests a strategy of minimizing the story's impact while in international settings. However, the ongoing congressional inquiries into Guilfoyle's prior conduct in Greece may force a more direct response from the administration in the coming weeks.