INV-010 · Money & ethics · Selling access
Ambassador Guilfoyle's $100,000 request to a donor
Stage 3 of 5: Official review · IG, ethics office or majority · Last development 15 Oct 2026
The Wall Street Journal reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, now US Ambassador to Greece, asked donor Eric Deters for $100,000 days before her confirmation hearing, in exchange for access to senior officials. Deters declined and went public.
- People
- Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Deters
- Agencies
- State Dept
- Reviewed by
- House Oversight (minority), State Dept inspector general (reported), House Foreign Affairs (minority)
Timeline
Eric Deters sues Guilfoyle and her lawyers for defamation in Kenton County, Kentucky, disputing their statements that the texts he gave reporters were fake and that he is a "known blackmailer." [7]
Ranking Member Garcia writes to Guilfoyle, now a private citizen, that the inquiry continues and his requests for her financial records and communications "still stand". No deadline stated. [5]
Guilfoyle resigns as ambassador to Greece; the White House says it asked her to resign. [4]
House Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks asks the State Department inspector general to investigate and asks Guilfoyle to answer the committee's questions under oath. [6]
NBC News, citing two people familiar with the decision, reports that the State Department inspector general is investigating Guilfoyle and the US Embassy in Greece. The inspector general does not confirm or deny investigations. [3]
Ranking Member Garcia asks Guilfoyle for financial records and her communications with Deters and with administration officials. [2]
The Wall Street Journal publishes the messages. Deters calls it a quid pro quo on ABC. [1]
Signal message from Guilfoyle: "It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express." [1]
Responses
- Guilfoyle's attorney: Disputes the messages' authenticity and says she was owed money for earlier speaking engagements. [1]
- Marco Rubio: Declined to comment on whether the allegations are true. [1]
- Kimberly Guilfoyle: "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity." Her lawyers say the money sought was for unpaid services that predated her nomination. [4]
- Guilfoyle's lawyer (David Schwartz): Called the defamation suit "clearly frivolous on its face." [7]
Who is acting on it
- Letter Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA): Asked Guilfoyle for financial records and her messages with the donor (8 Oct 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Investigation State Dept Inspector General: Reported to be investigating Guilfoyle and the US Embassy in Greece (9 Oct 2026, Under way)
- Asked for an investigation Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY): Asked the State inspector general to investigate and asked Guilfoyle to answer questions under oath (10 Oct 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Letter Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA): Told Guilfoyle, now a private citizen, that his requests still stand (14 Oct 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "Ambassador Guilfoyle's $100,000 request to a donor" (INV-010). Last updated 15 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-010-ambassador-guilfoyles-100-000-request-to-a-donor/
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