US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was “looking at” firing US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after several reports alleged that she had engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before and during her tenure in Athens.“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We’re not happy.”This comes after The Wall Street Journal reported questionable conduct by Guilfoyle, including allegedly threatening a host-country official, accepting improper gifts and services, and offering to use her influence within the administration in exchange for payment of a large credit card bill.Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the reports, but in a statement released late Sunday, her lawyers denied that she had done anything wrong.
They claimed that the money she was seeking from a Trump donor was payment for services, including public appearances and speaking engagements, that predated her nomination as ambassador and for which she had not been paid.“Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction. We are evaluating all available legal remedies to collect this debt and any other potential causes of action,” her lawyers said.
Since late September, the Journal has detailed several accounts of questionable conduct by Guilfoyle.Its first report said she had told guests at a reception that the US could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business interests of a particular Greek construction and energy company, and allowed the company's lobbyist to attend private diplomatic meetings.The Journal later reported that Guilfoyle had been enraged at not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year.
She allegedly demanded to attend while boasting about luxury travel to France with energy company executives.Another report, by British tabloid The Daily Mail, said Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the US Embassy in Athens and pushed the boundaries of behaviour appropriate for the top representative of the US government in Greece.Guilfoyle is a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor. She was once married to California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, and was engaged to Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.