Republican donor Eric Deters has filed a defamation lawsuit against former U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle in Kentucky state court. The lawsuit follows Guilfoyle’s resignation from the ambassadorship on Tuesday, which was prompted by allegations of improper text exchanges between the two.
Deters’ legal action centers on claims that Guilfoyle made false statements about him in response to his accusations that she sought $100,000 to pay her American Express bill in exchange for political influence. The text exchanges, published by the Wall Street Journal, reportedly included Guilfoyle suggesting she could leverage her connections to assist Deters with tax and legal matters if he covered the debt. President Donald Trump requested Guilfoyle’s resignation after the exchanges became public.
Guilfoyle’s legal team has disputed the authenticity of the text messages, stating in a response to the Wall Street Journal that Deters owed her money for travel and event support. Deters denies this claim and asserts that Guilfoyle’s attorneys previously stated they would vigorously defend against the allegations. The lawsuit was filed in Kentucky state court on Thursday.
Key Developments
- Deters filed a defamation lawsuit against Guilfoyle in Kentucky state court on Thursday, alleging false statements were made in response to his accusations.
- Guilfoyle resigned from her ambassadorship to Greece on Tuesday following the publication of text exchanges between her and Deters.
Background and Context
The dispute stems from text messages published by the Wall Street Journal last week, which Deters provided to multiple news outlets. The messages allegedly show Guilfoyle discussing the possibility of using her political connections to help Deters with personal legal and tax matters in exchange for paying her $100,000 American Express bill. Deters has publicly stated that he never owed Guilfoyle money for travel or events, contradicting her legal team’s claims.
Guilfoyle’s resignation was announced on Tuesday, with the White House confirming that President Trump had requested her departure. The Wall Street Journal reported that the text exchanges were part of a broader pattern of behavior that led to her removal from the ambassadorship.
Legal and Political Implications
The lawsuit raises questions about the legal and ethical boundaries of political influence and personal financial arrangements involving public officials. Deters’ legal filing argues that Guilfoyle’s statements about him were defamatory, while Guilfoyle’s team has framed the dispute as a matter of unpaid debts related to her official duties.
Attorneys for Guilfoyle, including Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, have not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of this report. CBS News has reached out to them for response.