Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern over the reported conduct of U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and the use of her role as a U.S. government official to advance personal and private commercial interests, including those of foreign companies.

In the letter, Ranking Member Meeks seeks answers regarding reports that Ambassador Guilfoyle threatened that the U.S. could use its influence to undermine Greece’s sovereign democratic government, reportedly invoking Romania as precedent; promoted the commercial interests of a Greek construction and energy company during official diplomatic engagements; and repeatedly allowed a registered lobbyist for that foreign company to participate in meetings with senior U.S. government officials and official foreign interlocutors.

Ranking Member Meeks called for the Ambassador’s removal if these allegations are accurate.

An excerpt of the letter is below. A copy is available here.

“According to a Wall Street Journal investigation published on September 25, 2026, Ambassador Guilfoyle told attendees at a March dinner with Greek and American officials, while discussing the impending collapse of then-Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's government, that the United States could bring about similar political change in other countries, including Greece. This allegation has prompted public concern in both Greece and Romania about whether the United States government interferes in the democratic governments of its NATO allies. Greek opposition parties have publicly sought answers from their government regarding the reported remarks.

“The same reporting raises separate concerns regarding Ambassador Guilfoyle's relationship with Christos Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist for Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group. Federal lobbying records cited by the Wall Street Journal show that Aktor paid Mr. Marafatsos $160,000 through June 2026 to establish connections with, among others, the Department of State, Department of Energy, and Executive Office of the President. The Journal further reported that Mr. Marafatsos accompanied Ambassador Guilfoyle to numerous official U.S. government meetings, including meetings with foreign heads of government and other senior officials, and that some participants were not informed that he was a paid lobbyist for Aktor, with some foreign officials reportedly mistaking him for the Ambassador’s chief of staff.

“These concerns are heightened by reporting that Ambassador Guilfoyle has promoted Aktor or Aktor-affiliated energy projects, during official engagements throughout Southeast Europe.” 

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