Former U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle is being sued by MAGA ally Eric Deters after she allegedly asked him to pay $100,000 on her American Express credit card last summer before her confirmation hearing.
"It's my opinion that I have brought down the Greek ambassador," Deters, a political firebrand based out of Northern Kentucky,said on social media Oct. 15.
Deters – who's known Guilfoyle since 2020 – released a roughly 300-page trove of statements, screenshots of messages with Guilfoyle, and other information to the media earlier this month, detailing what he's called "open grifting" by her and others in Trump's orbit.
Less than a week later on Oct. 13, Guilfoyle stepped down from her ambassadorship after President Donald Trump requested
her resignation amid corruption claims. That included the alleged request for payment from Deters and allegations that businessmen paid for her to go on lavish vacations, among other accusations.
Guilfoyle's attorney, Jesse Binnall, has told media outlets that the messages are not authentic. He went on to say that the requested payment was for money Deters owed to her for public appearances before she was ambassador. Guilfoyle's lawyers did not immediately respond to a call and email from The Enquirer.
That's the crux of the lawsuit, which includes claims of defamation, libel, slander, and breach of contract.
"(It's) based upon them claiming the texts were false. It's based on them saying I'm a known blackmailer and based on them telling that I owed her money," Deters said about the lawsuit online. "Those are all falsehoods."
What's in the lawsuit?
The 28-page contract includes accusations against Guilfoyle, Binnall, attorney David Schwartz, and law firms connected to the attorneys.
Here's a brief summary of the key points of the suit, filed in Kenton County Circuit/District court in Northern Kentucky:
- Defamation: Deters said Guilfoyle and others knew it was a lie to deny the authenticity of the messages he publicly released. He said she and others also lied about payments made to Guilfoyle.
- False light: Deters wrote that Guilfoyle and others acted in "reckless disregard" and caused him "serious mental suffering and injury to his peace of mind" when they publicly accused him of dishonesty regarding his claims.
- Breach of contract: Deters said Guilfoyle agreed to the $1 million contract to help with a legal matter involving Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani, a surgeon facing charges for a slew of accusations whom Deters has been legally pursuing for years. But Guilfoyle did not come through with her promises. Deters said he's "suffered damages and the damages are ongoing to this date."
'A cash-strapped millionaire'
The lawsuit includes a newly released email from Guilfoyle's attorney Jesse Binnall, who sent the lengthy statement to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the accusations.
In it, Binnall said Deters said he'd pay Guilfoyle $200,000 for public appearances and consulting services by May 31, 2024.
The attorney said Deters did not pay Guilfoyle all the money he owed her by that date.
"His own text messages blame his business partner, blame his lawyers, and describe himself as 'a cash-strapped millionaire.' Ms. Guilfoyle extended him grace repeatedly," the email states.
Binnall's email said Deters paid her some of the money he owed her, but he still owes Guilfoyle about $150,000 for speeches and consulting services from 2024 to early 2025.
Deters disputes that claim.
Wait, what's going on?
Deters first met Guilfoyle at Freedom Fest in 2020, a patriotic event at his Northern Kentucky farm that featured conservative speakers, music, and a festival-like atmosphere for MAGA supporters.
According to screenshots of text and Signal messages Deters shared with The Enquirer, he and Guilfoyle formed a friendship over the years. He was, at times, looped into her tight circle of friends and colleagues in Trump's orbit.
The messages also show Guilfoyle, who used to be engaged to Donald Trump Jr., often referred to Deters by pet names – like honey, sweetheart, and babe – though Deters confirmed that the two were just friends.
Nonetheless, their relationship took a sour turn last summer when Guilfoyle asked him to pay $100,000 on her American Express card, the provided messages show.
"Honey please I need you to get this done for me today," she allegedly wrote.
By then, Deters said he'd already paid her $300,000 in speaker fees, along with $200,000 to Donald Trump Jr. and $100,000 to Eric Trump for appearances at Freedom Fest.
But Guilfoyle hadn't helped Deters with the one major thing he asked for – assistance with the extradition and investigation of spinal surgeonDurrani.
Who is Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani?
Durrani owned the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies, with offices in Ohio and Kentucky. He's accused of performing hundreds of spine surgeries on patients, many of which were not needed or harmful to patients. He then billed Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies for the procedures, according toU.S. Office of Inspector General.
Durrani fled to Pakistan in 2013 after he was charged with a slew of crimes.
Deters, who's no longer a lawyer, has been pursuing legal action against Durrani on behalf of hundreds of patients for years. He wants Durrani extradited back to the United States. He also asked for help investigating medical and legal action he said has enabled Durrani to get away with crimes.
The messages also show he offered Guilfoyle $1 million if she helped him expose corruption with a medical company linked to Durrani, helped extradite Durrani and arranged a booking on"The Tucker Carlson Show" so he could discuss the doctor.
He told her that he'd pay her the money if they delivered results, the messages show.
That never happened.
"Anyone, including me, would be a fool to send money with nothing but vagueness and nothing," he wrote to her last year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kimberly Guilfoyle sued by MAGA ally Eric Deters
