US ambassador to Greece resigns amid misconduct allegations

Kimberly Gilfoyle has resigned as the United States ambassador to Greece after the US administration requested her departure over allegations of misconduct. According to the Associated Press, Gilfoyle has denied the accusations, stating she will "vigorously" defend herself.

In a post on X, Gilfoyle called the allegations "false," affirming her intention to defend her name, reputation, and integrity. She said she would not allow "false accusations" to tarnish her career, which she described as spanning decades of public service.

View the post on X

Earlier on Tuesday, the White House announced it had asked the US ambassador to Greece to resign. White House spokesperson Katie Zekaria said during a press briefing: "We asked Ambassador Gilfoyle to resign." She added: "She was a great addition to the team, and we wish her well."

The resignation follows intense criticism over reports concerning Gilfoyle's conduct both before her appointment in Athens and during her tenure as ambassador.

The Wall Street Journal published a series of reports last September detailing what it described as questionable behavior by Gilfoyle. The allegations included threatening a host country official, accepting inappropriate gifts and services, and offering to use her influence within the Trump administration in exchange for payment of a large credit card bill.

According to the newspaper, citing text messages, Gilfoyle asked a Trump donor and supporter to pay a $100,000 credit card bill before her confirmation hearing, in exchange for promised access to US administration officials.

Her attorneys, David Schwartz and Jesse Binal, denied any wrongdoing. In a statement issued Sunday evening, they said the amount requested from the donor was for services provided by Gilfoyle, including appearances and speeches, prior to her ambassador nomination, for which she had not been compensated.

Other reports by the newspaper highlighted Gilfoyle's frustration at not being invited to a Greek-themed event during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year, her insistence on participating, and her boasting about luxury trips to France with energy company executives.