State Department Watchdog Reportedly Probes Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle Over 'Toxic' Workplace and Ethics Allegations
Key Takeaways
- •The State Department's Office of Inspector General has reportedly opened a formal inquiry into Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and the U.S. Embassy in Athens, though the office has not publicly confirmed it.
- •Complaints allege a toxic work environment in which embassy employees were shouted at, forced to answer late-night demands, and threatened with dismissal.
- •Investigators are reportedly examining allegations that Guilfoyle used private jets and accepted improper gifts, matters that intersect with federal ethics rules for Senate-confirmed ambassadors, and she is said to have dismissed her ethics manager following a dispute over funding for renovations to Jefferson House.
- •Guilfoyle's attorney, Jesse Binnall, denied the misconduct allegations, stating that any implication of wrongdoing by the ambassador is unsupported.
- •The reported investigation follows requests from congressional Democrats, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, for an inquiry into allegations that Guilfoyle improperly promoted a foreign company and allowed a registered lobbyist to join high-level diplomatic meetings.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, President Donald Trump's ambassador to Greece, is reportedly facing a federal investigation amid complaints about her treatment of embassy staff, luxury travel, and potential ethics violations.
Five sources told the Daily Mail that the State Department's Office of Inspector General has opened a formal inquiry into Guilfoyle and the U.S. Embassy in Athens. The inspector general serves as the department's internal watchdog, charged with auditing programs and investigating allegations of misconduct and waste, and such inquiries typically unfold without public comment until any findings are finalized. The office has not yet publicly confirmed the investigation.
The allegations center on a work environment described as "toxic," in which employees were allegedly forced to respond to demands late at night, were shouted at, and were threatened with dismissal. "F—— get it done or you're f—— fired!" Guilfoyle reportedly warned embassy employees on multiple occasions, according to the report.
One reported incident allegedly took place in Mykonos, where Guilfoyle called a member of her security detail at 4 a.m. to demand more ice cubes. When the guard, identified as Vasili, did not answer, he was reportedly removed from his supervisory position and reassigned to "follow-car" duty. Two other drivers, Petros and Dimitris, are said to have lost their jobs after Guilfoyle objected to the way they "made a left turn."
Sources also described meetings between the Greek police and the ambassador's sixteen-member security team regarding staffing changes and the allegations of verbal abuse.
"You receive enough complaints, and you open up an investigation," one insider familiar with the allegations told the Daily Mail, adding, "Hopefully this shakes her."
According to the report, investigators are examining allegations that Guilfoyle used private jets and accepted inappropriate gifts. Her association with an energy and construction company was also cited. Gift and travel allegations of this kind intersect with federal ethics rules that restrict the outside gifts and benefits government employees, including Senate-confirmed ambassadors, may accept.
The report further states that Guilfoyle dismissed her ethics manager, Ann-Marie Everitt, following a dispute over funding for renovations to Jefferson House, the ambassador's official residence in Athens.
Guilfoyle's attorney, Jesse Binnall, denied the misconduct allegations. "Any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported," Binnall said.
The State Department inspector general's office told the newspaper it could not "confirm, deny or comment on investigative matters."
The disclosures follow requests from congressional Democrats for an inquiry into Guilfoyle's diplomatic activities. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) recently asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to investigate allegations that Guilfoyle improperly promoted a foreign company and allowed registered lobbyist Christos Marafatsos to take part in high-level diplomatic meetings.
Rubio, who visited Athens this week for talks on defense and energy cooperation, sidestepped questions about Guilfoyle's conduct. With the watchdog declining to comment, the open questions going forward are whether the inquiry is ever publicly confirmed or produces findings, and whether further pressure from lawmakers follows at a post that sits in Greece, a NATO member and key southeastern European partner.