Top Democrats on the Senate and House foreign affairs committees have called on the State Department to investigate the conduct of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, following reports of her active promotion of gas deals involving a Greek company across southeastern Europe.
In a letter sent Thursday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern over what she described as “inappropriate uses of an official position.” Shaheen highlighted Guilfoyle’s involvement of a registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, in meetings with foreign officials and her promotion of one of Marafatsos’ Greek clients, Aktor Group, which has a joint venture with a Greek state-backed company. Shaheen urged the State Department to clarify the measures taken to prevent undue influence and potential conflicts of interest.
Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed these concerns in a Wednesday letter to Rubio, stating that if the reports are accurate, “Ambassador Guilfoyle is unfit to represent the United States abroad and should be removed from her position.”
The lawmakers requested documents from the State Department, including a list of meetings attended by Marafatsos, details on Guilfoyle’s financial interests, and a comprehensive account of her promotion of Aktor Group. They also sought information on whether the State Department authorized Marafatsos’ participation in official meetings.
The U.S. Embassy in Greece defended Guilfoyle, stating that she continues to adhere to all State Department ethical guidelines and rejecting allegations of improper conduct. A lawyer for Guilfoyle said she has engaged with multiple energy companies rather than focusing on a single entity. Meanwhile, Aktor’s legal representative affirmed that the ambassador’s actions have been consistent with advancing U.S. interests.
Further scrutiny has arisen over Guilfoyle’s use of private jets for official travel. Reports indicated that she used a private aircraft, including one financed by Aktor’s CEO, for flights between Athens and Paris and during her credential presentation in Athens last November. Former embassy officials noted that ambassadors rarely use private planes and that the State Department requires explicit approval for such arrangements. The embassy stated Guilfoyle was in full compliance with travel regulations.
Guilfoyle’s persistent promotion of Aktor and her collaboration with Marafatsos have drawn surprise and concern among officials in southeastern Europe. The Greek company secured a 20-year agreement last fall to purchase U.S. liquefied natural gas from American firm Venture Global through its joint venture.
The ambassador also reportedly became involved in a contentious exchange with Greece’s energy minister, Stavros Papastavrou, at a March dinner in Athens. As reported, Guilfoyle allegedly remarked about the Romanian government’s impending collapse, saying, “We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here.” Guilfoyle’s legal counsel disputed the characterization of the incident.
In Greece, opposition parties have urged the government to address the remarks or require Guilfoyle to explain them. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis denied any suggestion of threats toward the Greek government and underscored that such conduct would be intolerable, without directly commenting on the statements related to Romania.
In Romania, the comments stirred political controversy, prompting calls from multiple parties for clarification regarding Guilfoyle’s interactions with Romanian officials. Alexandru Dimitriu, a lawmaker from the Save Romania Union party, filed a treason complaint against politicians who met with the ambassador, alleging collusion with a foreign power.
Romania’s government had collapsed in May following a no-confidence vote initiated by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians. PSD leaders denied any coordination with the United States regarding the vote. The caretaker prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, has not engaged in discussions with Guilfoyle, according to a government spokesperson.