US Democrats seek probe into ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle over Athens reports
Senior Democratic lawmakers have called on the State Department to investigate US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports about alleged remarks concerning political intervention and questions over her promotion of American energy interests in southeastern Europe.
Senior Democrats in the US Congress are seeking answers from the State Department over the conduct of US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, bringing controversy surrounding her diplomatic activities in Athens to Washington.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting scrutiny of the allegations. Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has also raised concerns and called for Guilfoyle's removal if the allegations are substantiated, according to a statement published by the committee's Democrats.
The requests follow a September 25 report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) concerning Guilfoyle's efforts to promote US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in southeastern Europe and an alleged exchange with Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou during a dinner in Athens in March. The account has been disputed by Guilfoyle's side, while Greek government officials have denied that Athens was threatened.
ALLEGED REMARKS ABOUT POLITICAL INTERVENTION
According to the WSJ report, the conversation turned to Romania and the expected collapse of the government led by then-Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. Guilfoyle allegedly suggested that Washington had played a role in the Romanian political developments and said the United States could bring about similar outcomes elsewhere, including in Greece.
The newspaper attributed the account to a person who attended the dinner and others who were subsequently told about the exchange. According to the report, Papastavrou responded that the United States could not replace a Greek government elected by its citizens. Guilfoyle's lawyer has disputed the newspaper's characterization of the conversation.
The allegations have prompted political reactions in both Greece and Romania, raising questions about the boundaries between diplomatic engagement, political influence and the promotion of commercial interests.
DEMOCRATS SEEK ANSWERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT
In addition to the reported remarks, Meeks has raised concerns about Guilfoyle's relationship with Christos Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist for Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group.
According to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, the WSJ investigation reported that Marafatsos accompanied Guilfoyle to multiple official meetings with senior foreign officials, while some participants were reportedly unaware of his lobbying role. The lawmakers also cited reports that Guilfoyle promoted Aktor or affiliated energy projects during official engagements across southeastern Europe. These matters form part of the broader concerns they have asked the State Department to examine.
The lawmakers' requests concern allegations that have not been established as findings of official misconduct. The State Department's response to the calls for an investigation will be a key next step in determining whether the matter leads to a formal review.
GREEK GOVERNMENT DENIES THAT ATHENS WAS THREATENED
Greek officials have rejected the suggestion that the government faced pressure or threats from Washington.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said on September 28 that there had been no question of threatening the Greek government and that such conduct would not have been acceptable.
Papastavrou addressed the controversy in Parliament on October 2 after a question from opposition lawmaker Alexandros Kazamias of the Course of Freedom party. He said that no pressure or threat had been made against Greece to induce it to take any action, adding that the country's decisions were guided by the national interest. He also stressed the close relationship between Athens and Washington.
The controversy also intersects with energy diplomacy. The WSJ report examined Guilfoyle's promotion of American LNG in southeastern Europe, including efforts connected to a proposed regional gas corridor and commercial projects involving Aktor Group. The reported political exchange in Athens has therefore drawn attention not only to the ambassador's alleged remarks but also to the relationship between US diplomatic initiatives and private-sector energy interests.
With senior Democrats now seeking a State Department review, the issue has moved beyond the initial media reports. Whether the department launches an investigation, and what conclusions it reaches, remain unresolved.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal; US House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats; Kathimerini; Naftemporiki.
