Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said he expects an investigation into reports concerning U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, becoming one of the highest-ranking Republicans to publicly raise concerns about the Trump ally.
"What we've seen in the reports is very troubling," the Wyoming Republican told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. "It's concerning. And I'm sure there's going to be an investigation."
Barrasso, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the panel would exercise oversight and that the public had a right to know the findings of any investigation.
His remarks followed reports that Guilfoyle, formerly engaged to Donald Trump Jr., allegedly asked a wealthy Republican donor to pay $100,000 toward her credit card debt shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. Additional reporting has raised questions about her relationships with Greek business figures, luxury travel and her promotion of certain commercial projects while serving as ambassador.
The controversy surrounding Guilfoyle extends beyond the $100,000 payment allegations. In a September 30 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat, sought answers about allegations that Guilfoyle promoted the interests of a Greek energy company, allowed a lobbyist to participate in diplomatic meetings and made remarks suggesting the United States could influence political outcomes in allied countries.
NBC News reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the State Department's Office of Inspector General is investigating Guilfoyle and the U.S. Embassy in Greece, while the Wall Street Journal reported that the watchdog was examining questions including whether she received gifts or favors from private businessmen.
Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Athens told the Journal that she had followed State Department ethics and gift-reporting rules and described the allegations as unsubstantiated.
Newsweek reached out to the White House, State Department, and an attorney for Guilfoyle on Sunday for comment.
Barrasso Expects Probe as Pressure Mounts on Guilfoyle
Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked Barrasso whether he was comfortable with a U.S. official allegedly asking someone to pay off personal debt in exchange for access to government officials.
"No, I'm not," he replied.
"I would assume the State Department would be conducting that," Barrasso added. "I know that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have oversight and look into that as well."
His response went further than those offered by several senior Trump administration officials, who have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the allegations are established.
The comments also carry added significance because Barrasso holds the No. 2 position in the Senate Republican leadership and sits on the committee responsible for overseeing the State Department and U.S. diplomatic appointments.
The $100,000 Allegation Against Guilfoyle
Republican donor and conservative media personality Eric Deters has alleged that Guilfoyle asked him to send $100,000 directly to American Express days before her July 2025 confirmation hearing.
The request appeared in messages first reported by the Journal and subsequently reviewed by other news organizations.
"It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express," Guilfoyle allegedly wrote in one Signal message.
"I have been officially announced honey please I need you to get this done for me today," another alleged message said.
Deters, who had previously paid Guilfoyle for appearances at political events, did not make the payment. He told CBS News that he viewed the alleged offer as "pay to play" and "a quid pro quo."
Deters is himself a controversial figure. The Journal noted that the former congressional candidate and radio host has faced legal and professional disciplinary issues over the years, including bar suspensions and unsuccessful political campaigns. Deters has defended himself and told the newspaper he remains supportive of many Trump policies despite becoming critical of Guilfoyle.
According to the Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly updated Deters on efforts to contact senior administration officials on his behalf, including then-IRS Commissioner Billy Long, and forwarded messages she said she had sent to government officials regarding his concerns. The newspaper reported that Guilfoyle described herself as Deters' "ride or die in Trump world" and suggested she could help him reach influential figures in the new administration.
Jesse Binnall, an attorney for Guilfoyle, disputed the authenticity of the messages in comments reported by the Journal. The attorney said Guilfoyle was owed money for travel and speaking engagements before her nomination. Deters disputed that he owed her the requested balance.
New Questions Over Private Jets, Luxury Travel and Greek Business Ties
Separate reporting has focused on Guilfoyle's relationships with business leaders in Greece and whether those connections created conflicts with her diplomatic work.
The Journal reported that an audio recording captured Guilfoyle allegedly discussing private-jet travel and luxury accommodations financed by Greek business figures.
According to the Journal, Guilfoyle acknowledged on the recording that she flew to the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos on a private jet with Alexandros Exarchou, chief executive of Greek construction company Aktor Group. The Journal had previously reported that Guilfoyle allegedly encouraged governments in southeastern Europe to do business with the company and purchase American natural gas through one of its ventures.
In the letter, Meeks cited reporting that Guilfoyle told attendees at a March dinner that the United States could bring about political change in countries including Greece.
According to the letter, those reported comments prompted questions in Greece and reactions in Romania and raised concerns about whether the U.S. was interfering in the affairs of democratic allies.
The congressman also raised questions about Guilfoyle's relationship with Christos Marafatsos, a lobbyist for Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group. According to the letter, reporting indicated that Marafatsos participated in numerous official meetings involving senior U.S. and foreign officials and that some participants allegedly were not informed he represented Aktor's interests.
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Meeks further cited reports that Guilfoyle promoted Aktor or Aktor-affiliated energy projects during official engagements across Southeast Europe, including discussions involving energy infrastructure in Bulgaria and Albania. He asked the State Department to explain whether appropriate ethics reviews were conducted and whether any private interests received preferential access through the ambassador's office.
Lawyers for Aktor Group have previously denied that Guilfoyle improperly promoted the company's commercial interests, according to the Journal.
Guilfoyle also said on the recording that she planned to fly to Paris with Greek shipping executive Nikolas Tsakos, the Journal reported. People familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Tsakos paid for her stay at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris.
Tsakos and his wife did not respond to the newspaper's requests for comment.
The embassy spokesperson said Guilfoyle's career was guided by "deep and abiding values" and that she remained committed to representing the American people with "dedication, distinction and integrity."
In his letter, Meeks wrote that if the allegations were accurate, Guilfoyle would be "unfit to represent the United States abroad" and should be removed from her position.
What Trump, Rubio and Vance Have Said
President Donald Trump offered a limited response when asked about the reports Friday.
"I just heard about it. It's too bad," he said, according to the Journal. "I mean, I don't know. She's an ambassador. She was always very nice."
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters on October 8, said he did not like the idea of a government official selling access but stressed that the allegations against Guilfoyle were still accusations and that the facts should be established before conclusions are drawn.
"Let's actually see what the facts are. Let's see what the truth is," he said. "And obviously if there was something bad that happened, then people have to suffer consequences for it."
Speaking to reporters at Athens International Airport before departing Greece, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to weigh in on the allegations.
"I don't even know if it's true or not true," he told reporters, criticizing the assumption that published reports should automatically be treated as established fact.
During the visit, Rubio also described Guilfoyle as a "strong ambassador" whose embassy was doing a "great job."
Democrats have also pressed for investigations. Meeks has called for an "immediate investigation" into whether Guilfoyle violated bribery or public-corruption laws, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire has separately raised concerns about what she described as potential inappropriate uses of an official position.
Although Barrasso stopped short of reaching conclusions about the allegations, he made clear that he considered the reports serious and expected investigators and Congress to seek answers.
Newsweek reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Steve Mollman and Anthony Murray.