Lawyers for Kimberly Guilfoyle say the Trump donor accusing the U.S. ambassador to Greece of seeking money in exchange for political access actually owes her approximately $150,000 for speaking engagements and consulting work, offering their most detailed defense yet against allegations that have put her diplomatic future in question.
In a formal statement, attorneys Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz rejected allegations made by Eric Deters, a Kentucky businessman and former congressional candidate. They argue that Deters has attempted to turn an unpaid business debt into accusations of political corruption.
The statement also addresses separate allegations involving Guilfoyle’s travel aboard private aircraft, with her lawyers insisting she complied with State Department regulations and federal ethics requirements.
The defense was issued before President Donald Trump publicly confirmed that he was considering removing Guilfoyle from her ambassadorial post on Monday, October 12.
“Well, we’re looking at it. Yeah, we’re not happy,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He did not elaborate on his dissatisfaction or announce a decision on her future.
Guilfoyle’s Lawyers Detail $200,000 Contract and $150,000 Unpaid Debt
According to the attorneys, the dispute began in 2024, when Deters hired Guilfoyle to appear at his Kentucky Freedom Fest events, which he organized while building his political profile ahead of campaigns for governor and Congress.
The lawyers say Deters signed a written General Service Agreement on May 20, 2024, with a third-party booking agency responsible for arranging Guilfoyle’s appearances and collecting payments.
The contract called for a flat fee of $200,000, payable by May 31, 2024.
Beyond the initial agreement, the lawyers maintain that Deters arranged additional speaking engagements and agreed to compensate Guilfoyle for strategic communications and fundraising consulting services.
They say these additional arrangements were witnessed by a third party who has since attested to them under oath.
However, according to the legal team, Deters failed to meet his payment obligations, making irregular partial transfers over several months while repeatedly offering explanations for the delays.
His alleged text messages blamed business associates and attorneys for the unpaid fees. In one exchange cited in Guilfoyle’s statement, Deters reportedly described himself as “a cash strapped millionaire.”
The attorneys claim that approximately $150,000 remains outstanding for services provided in 2024 and early 2025.
“Eric Deters owes Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle approximately $150,000 for speeches and consulting work she performed for him long before she was nominated to serve as Ambassador,” the statement says.
The lawyers argue that Guilfoyle was simply attempting to collect money owed to her as she prepared to leave private business for public service.
“Asking a client to pay for work already done is not corruption. It is the opposite of corruption,” they said.
Trump announced Guilfoyle as his choice for ambassador in December 2024. She was formally nominated to the Senate in March 2025 and confirmed by the Senate in September 2025.
Ambassador Rejects Claims of Political Favors in Exchange for Money
The defense directly challenges Deters’ allegations that Guilfoyle solicited financial assistance while promising access to influential Trump administration officials.
The Wall Street Journal reported purported messages suggesting that Guilfoyle asked Deters in July 2025 to transfer $100,000 toward her American Express credit card account, shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing.
According to the newspaper, the communications also involved possible assistance with Deters’ efforts to reach senior administration figures.
Guilfoyle’s legal representatives have challenged the authenticity of the reported messages and denied wrongdoing.
Deters, however, maintains that the proposed payment was part of an arrangement in which Guilfoyle would help him gain political access.
In interviews with American media, Deters said he had already paid Guilfoyle approximately $300,000 and accused her of offering access to senior administration officials in return for an additional $100,000 payment.
He said he never made that additional payment and disputed the claim that he owes Guilfoyle any outstanding fees.
The ambassador’s attorneys present a fundamentally different explanation, saying the money in dispute was compensation for professional services, not a payment intended to secure government favors.
“That is what Mr. Deters now calls a ‘quid pro quo’: a delinquent client being asked to pay an overdue bill,” the statement says.
Guilfoyle’s Lawyers Address Disputed $1 Million Offer
The statement also provides details of a proposed $1 million arrangement involving Deters’ efforts to publicize private medical malpractice litigation. According to the lawyers, Deters offered Guilfoyle the money to help promote his case and bring it to the attention of Trump administration officials.
Guilfoyle’s attorneys say she rejected the offer.
Deters has acknowledged discussing the potential payment but describes it as contingent on Guilfoyle providing assistance with his cause.
The attorneys say they are considering legal remedies to recover the alleged $150,000 debt, along with other possible claims.
Legal Team Defends Guilfoyle’s Private Jet Travel
The formal statement also responds to separate allegations concerning private aircraft travel and hospitality allegedly provided by wealthy Greek business figures during Guilfoyle’s tenure in Athens.
Previous Wall Street Journal reporting raised questions about whether some of these arrangements were consistent with federal ethics requirements governing diplomatic officials.
Her lawyers reject suggestions that the ambassador violated the applicable rules.
“Before using any private aircraft, Ambassador Guilfoyle sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the Department’s travel regulations,” the statement says.
They add that Guilfoyle complied with federal ethics, gift and reporting requirements, which they say the U.S. Embassy has already confirmed.
Trump’s Comments Raise Questions About Guilfoyle’s Future in Greece
The controversy has created uncertainty around one of the Trump administration’s most prominent diplomatic appointments.
Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor, television personality and longtime Trump political ally, became the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece when she presented her credentials to Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas on November 4, 2025.
Since arriving in Athens, she has made American energy exports and the strategic relationship between Greece and the United States central priorities of her diplomatic mission.
Her first official meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis focused heavily on energy cooperation, particularly the development of the Vertical Corridor, a regional initiative intended to move natural gas from Greece toward southeastern and central Europe.
Guilfoyle subsequently described Greece’s potential role as a regional energy hub, emphasizing Washington’s efforts to expand American liquefied natural gas exports and reduce European dependence on Russian supplies.
Her attorneys cite these priorities as evidence of her commitment to the Trump administration’s foreign policy agenda.
“Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction,” the statement concludes.
The lawyers’ defense follows earlier reports that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were weighing Guilfoyle’s removal amid the allegations.
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