A decision expected this week
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering firing US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after a series of reports alleging improper and possibly illegal conduct before and during her time in Athens, a senior US official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two men are "extremely pissed off" and would likely decide what to do this week, after Monday's Columbus Day holiday.
The Wall Street Journal has reported a series of allegations, including a threat to a host-country official, accepting improper gifts and services, and offering to use her influence inside the administration in return for payment of a large credit card bill. Rubio was described as particularly angry, in part because he visited Athens last week and Guilfoyle greeted him on arrival with a bear hug while the allegations were already circulating.
Separate fight over White House press access
In a different dispute, the Department of Justice is investigating whether a decision by the White House television press pool to stop covering Trump last month violated antitrust law. A department spokesperson, Emily Covington, said group boycotts among business competitors might break US law and that the Antitrust Division is examining whether the news organisations crossed a line. The pool of five broadcasters halted presidential coverage after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Judge blocks paid promotional ads
A federal judge in New York ordered the administration to cancel any remaining taxpayer-funded television ads promoting Trump's political message. Judge Jennifer L. Rochon granted a temporary restraining order sought by a coalition that included the watchdog group Common Cause, which argued the campaign was an illegal use of public money. The Justice Department had argued the order was unnecessary because the campaign was already ending. The White House pointed to an earlier post in which Trump defended the ads as "rather standard" but said he would pay for them from political fundraising.