Eric Deters, a businessman, has accused Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., of engaging in a pay-to-play scheme. According to Deters, Guilfoyle asked for $100,000 to settle her American Express bill in exchange for assistance with the Trump administration. This claim comes ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing.
During an interview with CBS News, Deters stated Guilfoyle should lose her ambassadorship due to her alleged actions. He cited text messages exchanged in July, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Deters claimed, “It was quid pro quo,” but added that he did not provide the funds due to financial constraints.
Despite acknowledging the authenticity of the messages, White House officials and sources familiar with the matter indicated that some Trump aides were displeased with Guilfoyle’s actions. The Wall Street Journal revealed that she approached Deters just before her congressional hearing, requesting $100,000 to discreetly cover her credit card debt. Guilfoyle wrote to Deters on July 3, emphasizing urgency, “It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express,” according to screenshots of texts.
Deters provided CBS News with a 292-page file containing messages, communications with Guilfoyle, and personal grievances against Trump world figures. Deters, a former lawyer from Kentucky, has also unsuccessfully run for political office and sought attention for the extradition of Dr. Abubakar Durrani, an orthopedic surgeon accused of healthcare fraud.
Deters has expressed disappointment over the lack of support from key Trump figures in extraditing Durrani. He reached out to Trump Jr., Guilfoyle, and Susie Wiles without receiving a response, leading him to seek media assistance. Deters alleges he could benefit from Durrani’s extradition to the U.S. as he represents many of Durrani’s former patients.
Deters shared a past financial connection with Guilfoyle, asserting that he paid her $300,000 for appearance fees, and similar payments to Trump family members. He intended further payments for consulting services involving Guilfoyle and Drew Lynch, Trump Jr.’s podcast producer.
“She knew there was something wrong about it because she kept getting mad at me,” Deters claimed, pointing to Guilfoyle’s insistence on using secure communication methods to hide their discussions.
The Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, responded to the allegations without taking a firm stance. Rubio criticized reporters for considering unverified sources as gospel. Vice President JD Vance expressed unease about a hypothetical government official asking for debt payments.
Deters is now focused on publicizing his narrative and advocating for the victims in the Durrani case. He stated his determination to bring attention to Guilfoyle’s actions and challenge her position as an ambassador.