Democrats urge Rubio to investigate Guilfoyle’s links to Greek lobbyist
US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle is facing scrutiny over an energy lobbyist’s presence at official meetings and reports that her team sought hospitality from a Greek fixer. The claims have prompted calls from senior Democrats for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to investigate, adding pressure ahead of his visit to Athens.
Christos Marafatsos, who chairs Greeks for Trump, is a registered lobbyist for Aktor Group, a major Greek infrastructure firm that has expanded into gas and renewable energy. The Wall Street Journal reported that Aktor paid him $160,000 through June to build ties with US officials and that Guilfoyle encouraged Balkan officials to work with the company; her lawyer says she has worked across the energy sector. Insiders told the Daily Mail her team requested two cases of Champagne and a dinner costing nearly €1,600, while an embassy official said Guilfoyle paid for the meal. Guilfoyle, the White House and the embassy deny impropriety and say she follows State Department ethics rules.
- Guilfoyle faces questions over lobbyist Marafatsos attending meetings.
- Democrats have urged Rubio to investigate her conduct.
- The embassy says she follows State Department ethics rules.
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Kimberly Guilfoyle is the United States ambassador to Greece. She has faced questions about her relationship with Christos Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist and chairman of an organisation called Greeks for Trump.
Marafatsos is paid by Aktor Group, a major Greek company involved in infrastructure and energy, to build relationships with American officials. News reports indicate that Guilfoyle encouraged Balkan officials to work with Aktor and that members of her team sought expensive hospitality, including champagne and a dinner costing nearly €1,600. Guilfoyle's representatives deny any wrongdoing and say she paid for her own meals and follows State Department ethics rules.
The matter involves the relationship between a senior diplomat and a registered lobbyist working for a private company. Government ethics rules are intended to prevent conflicts of interest in such situations. Democrats have called for the Secretary of State to investigate.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Panic over Kimberly Guilfoyle’s outrageous Champagne demand and the Athens dealmaker by her side… but she digs in heels as Greek life unravels: ‘I need him’”.