Rubio refuses to comment on report Guilfoyle asked donor to pay $100,000 credit card bill

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday refused to comment on a new Wall Street Journal report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before taking up her post. The Journal story, published late Wednesday, said Guilfoyle asked a donor and supporter of President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]

Rubio said he was aware of the report but had no idea if it was true and would not address it. "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," he said at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart Greece, looked on. According to The Hill, he also said, "our job is not to respond every time someone decides to give the media something without any advance warning." [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]

The donor, Eric Deters, told MS Now on Thursday that Guilfoyle had "ambushed" him last year with an offer of access to government officials if he paid her American Express bill, The Guardian reported. "It absolutely was a quid pro quo," he said. The Guardian described Deters as a former congressional candidate and lawyer; The Hill described him as a businessman and former lawyer and as a former co-owner of Snappy Tomato Pizza. The Hill said the Journal reported that Guilfoyle sought the money in a way that would not leave a paper trail, and quoted her writing to Deters: "What a nightmare you'll literally cost me my ambassadorship stop writing." Guilfoyle's lawyer, Jesse Binnall, told the Journal she disputed the authenticity of the messages but was "owed a balance" for travel and speaking at events before her nomination. Deters told the Journal he did not owe her any balance. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]

In Washington, Vice President JD Vance said "I don't love" the idea of a U.S. official asking someone to pay off debts in exchange for access to other officials, but declined further comment until he knew all the details. Sen. Thom Tillis said Guilfoyle and Trump administration consultants Chris LaCivita and James Blair "need to answer a lot of questions." [ 1 , 3 , 7 ]

At a joint news conference with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Wednesday, Rubio said he would not address the allegations while visiting a foreign country, adding, "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." The top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle, but Rubio would not say if he was prepared to open one. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]

Congressional Democrats were already looking into claims the Journal reported last month about Guilfoyle's conduct as ambassador. According to The Seattle Times, the Journal reported she told guests at a reception that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government if it chose to; The Hill said the Journal reported she gave preferential treatment to a Greek shipping firm. Rubio was in Greece, where he delivered a speech calling for European countries to return to what he described as their civilizational roots. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]