بعد اتهامات بسلوك غير لائق.. واشنطن تدرس إقالة سفيرتها في اليونان

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering the dismissal of Washington's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, following reports of alleged misconduct before and during her tenure in Athens.

The Associated Press reported on Sunday, citing a senior U.S. official, that Trump and Rubio are extremely angry about the reports concerning the ambassador's behavior, suggesting that a decision regarding her fate could be made this week, following Columbus Day in the United States.

According to the agency, pressure on Guilfoyle has increased after a series of reports published by The Wall Street Journal, which addressed allegations of inappropriate behavior, including an alleged threat made to an official in the host country, accepting inappropriate gifts and services, and attempting to use her influence within the U.S. administration in exchange for paying a $100,000 credit card bill.

The newspaper reported, based on text messages it claimed to have seen, that Guilfoyle asked Republican donor Eric Dieters to pay an American Express credit card bill before her confirmation hearing as ambassador, indicating that she could assist him in reaching officials in the U.S. administration.

According to the report, Dieters was seeking help with personal, tax, and legal issues, while the published correspondence raised questions about the potential linkage between political assistance and the request for funds. No court ruling has confirmed that Guilfoyle committed any violations in this case.

Other reports included allegations that the ambassador promoted the interests of a Greek company operating in the construction and energy sectors and allowed one of its representatives to participate in private diplomatic meetings, along with disputes regarding private trips and gifts and benefits she received or sought to obtain.

Media reports also discussed tensions in her relationship with some staff members at the U.S. embassy in Athens and statements attributed to her during a social event where she hinted at the United States' ability to undermine the Greek government if it wished to do so.

In response, Guilfoyle's attorneys, David Schwartz and Jesse Binal, denied that she committed any violations, stating that the funds she requested from Dieters were financial dues for public appearances and events that occurred prior to her nomination as ambassador, for which she did not receive payment. They also rejected the allegations related to her private flights, asserting that she received guidance from the State Department and complied with applicable travel rules.

Initially, Rubio defended the ambassador's performance, describing her as doing her job strongly, but later refrained from commenting on the increasing allegations. During his visit to Athens last week, he criticized journalists who asked him about the reports, emphasizing that he would not treat what was reported as fact unless he could verify it.

The Associated Press quoted another U.S. official stating that the Office of the Inspector General at the State Department is reviewing the allegations, but did not confirm whether a formal investigation had begun. Prominent Democratic officials on the foreign relations committees of both the House and Senate, along with a prominent Democratic member of the House Oversight Committee, have called for an investigation into the matter.

The case gains additional sensitivity due to Guilfoyle's political position and her previous connections to the Trump family; she is a former host on Fox News, served as a prosecutor in California, and was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the son of the U.S. president.