The State Department’s Office of Inspector General has opened a formal investigation into Kimberly Guilfoyle’s conduct as U.S. ambassador to Greece, according to a new report.
The Daily Mail reported that five officials confirmed a formal probe by the inspector general’s office, and three of those sources said investigators are looking at allegations that include possible substance abuse, her use of private planes and helicopters, improper acceptance of gifts and her close ties to an energy and construction company.
People familiar with the complaints told the outlet the investigation started after internal complaints at the U.S. Embassy in Athens reached a breaking point.
“You receive enough complaints and you open up an investigation, that is the way this works,” one insider said. “Hopefully this shakes her.”
The inspector general’s office told the Daily Mail it cannot “confirm, deny, or comment on investigative matters.” Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, declined to comment on what he called “internal matters” but said “any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported.”
Sources described the embassy as a “toxic workplace.” Guilfoyle allegedly threatened staff with lines like “f—ing get it done or you’re f—ing fired!” Several sources told the Daily Mail she demoted her lead security agent, a grandfather, after he didn’t answer her 4 a.m. call during a summer stay in Mykonos because she had reportedly wanted more ice cubes. Two drivers were also allegedly taken off her detail because she didn’t like how they made a left turn.
Two sources said she fired her ethics manager last winter after a disagreement over who paid to renovate the ambassador’s residence. The renovations were reportedly funded by wealthy Greeks.
Senior congressional Democrats have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to look into whether Guilfoyle gave energy lobbyist Christos Marafatsos access to high-level diplomatic meetings and accepted luxury travel on private aircraft.
The Wall Street Journal has also reported Wednesday that text messages showing Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay her $100,000 American Express bill before she was confirmed.
Rubio arrived in Athens this week for talks with Greek officials, and Guilfoyle greeted him with a hug on the tarmac. Asked about the reports during a press conference, Rubio brushed off the question.
“This is not the forum where we’re going to address this,” he said.
A person close to Trump told the Daily Mail the question now is “how long can she hang on?”
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