Rubio Refuses Comment on Guilfoyle     10/08 06:16

   

   ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday 
flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to 
Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct 
before taking up her post.

   Rubio told reporters that he would not discuss the allegations contained in 
a Wall Street Journal story that said Guilfoyle had asked a donor and supporter 
of U.S. President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before 
her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if 
he did.

   He spoke before leaving Greece, where he delivered a speech calling for 
European countries to return to what he described as their civilizational roots.

   Rubio said he was aware of The Wall Street Journal's report, which was 
published late Wednesday, but had no idea if it was true and he would not 
address it.

   "You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something 
and you reported it, it's the gospel. It's not the gospel. It's not the gospel 
for me. That's not the way we do things," he said at the foot of his plane as 
Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart Greece, looked on.

   At a joint news conference with the Greek foreign minister earlier in the 
day, Rubio said he would not address the allegations while visiting a foreign 
country, but added, "Suffice it to say our embassy here is doing a great job. 
Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here."

   The top two Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign 
Relations committees have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle, but Rubio 
would not say if he was prepared to open one.

   Congressional Democrats already were looking into claims reported last month 
by the Wall Street Journal that Guilfoyle acted improperly while serving as the 
top U.S. envoy to Greece.

   The Journal reported that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the U.S. 
could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business 
interests of one particular Greek construction and energy company, and allowed 
its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.

   Guilfoyle, a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor who was 
once engaged to Trump's son Donald Jr., has denied any wrongdoing and Rubio has 
defended her before.