Kimberly Guilfoyle, selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. representative to Greece, is the most recent addition to his suggested nominees who comes with a past marred by allegations of sexual misconduct.
The former Fox News anchor faced accusations of sexually harassing an assistant while employed at the network, leading to an out-of-court settlement exceeding four million dollars, as reported by The New Yorker in 2020.
At the time of the report, Guilfoyle refuted the allegations, stating to the publication: “I have never participated in any misconduct within the workplace. Throughout my career, I have been a mentor to numerous women, many of whom I maintain close relationships with to this day.”
In 2018, the assistant who reported to Guilfoyle submitted a draft complaint to Fox leadership, outlining a multitude of misconduct charges against the former prosecutor.
Notably, the assistant alleged that Guilfoyle forced her to work from home, where she purportedly exposed herself and displayed images of the male genitalia belonging to men she had been romantically involved with.
The assistant also claimed that Guilfoyle frequently discussed her sexual adventures, once insisted that the woman massage her exposed thighs, and urged her to agree to another Fox employee’s demands for sexual favors. According to The New Yorker, the former host encouraged her to pursue relationships with affluent men and “requested her feedback on her nude physique.”
The publication reported that Fox News compelled Guilfoyle to exit in July 2018, despite her claims of leaving on her own accord, and that the network later provided the assistant, who is no longer employed there, with the multi-million dollar settlement.
The Trump transition team did not provide an immediate response to a comment request.
The assistant’s draft complaint—which was never officially filed—regarding Guilfoyle arose during a tumultuous period for Fox News.
Two years prior, Roger Ailes, the network’s former chairman and CEO, resigned amid a surge of allegations concerning his sexual harassment of female employees, including notable figures like Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Andrea Tantaros.
Late Tuesday night, Trump declared his intention to nominate Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece, even as reports suggested her engagement to his son Don Jr. had fallen through. Trump’s oldest son was recently spotted socializing in Palm Beach with socialite Bettina Anderson.
In the meantime, one of Trump’s most notable nominees—Pete Hegseth for defense secretary—has faced scrutiny on Capitol Hill following the revelation of a woman’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in 2017.
Hegseth has denied this allegation, along with claims that he oversaw a toxic and sexist environment at a veterans’ organization he once led.
Additionally, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (D-FL), another of Trump’s cabinet selections, withdrew from consideration amid accusations of engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl, soliciting sex, and using illegal narcotics. His alleged conduct prompted a House Ethics Committee investigation, details of which have not been made public, as well as a Justice Department inquiry that resulted in no charges.
Gaetz has denied the claims against him.
Trump himself faces allegations of sexual misconduct from more than two dozen women, all of which he denies.
