Kimberly Guilfoyle's recent nomination as the U.S. ambassador to Greece by President-elect Donald Trump has ignited controversy due to her fraught history and connections to the Trump family.
Announced last Tuesday, this decision highlights persistent concerns regarding high-level appointments involving individuals with contentious pasts.
Mercury News reported that Guilfoyle, a familiar face from Fox News and a notorious figure within Trump's circle, confronts a rocky confirmation process due to past sexual misconduct allegations and her ongoing engagement with Donald Trump Jr.
The allegations stem primarily from her time at Fox News, where she allegedly exhibited degrading behavior towards a female assistant, a situation that culminated in a multimillion-dollar settlement to avoid a trial. These allegations and her settlement have cast a long shadow over her nomination.
President Trump has previously faced criticism for nominating allies accused of sexual improprieties to key positions, a trend that Guilfoyle’s nomination appears to continue.
This pattern raises questions about the standards applied within the highest ranks of political appointments.
During his tenure and campaigns, Trump himself has been accused of similar misconduct, which he has denied. His history and choice of nominees consistently attract scrutiny and division among the public and lawmakers alike.
Moreover, Guilfoyle's active role in Trump's 2020 campaign, where she supported his unproven claims of electoral fraud, adds another layer of complexity to her nomination, signaling it may serve more as a political statement than a merit-based appointment.
Guilfoyle left Fox News in July 2018 under the cloud of sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced following an internal human resources investigation reported by HuffPost and The New Yorker. Despite these controversies, she received a severance payment of reportedly about four million dollars, the specifics of which remain undisclosed.
In her defense, Guilfoyle has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct, asserting her innocence and highlighting her long-standing professional record in law and media.
"In my 30-year career working for the SF District Attorney’s Office, the LA District Attorney’s Office, in media and in politics, I have never engaged in any workplace misconduct of any kind," Guilfoyle stated.
Her statement further emphasized her role as a mentor to women throughout her career, maintaining that her professional relationships have been both ethical and supportive.
The reactions to Guilfoyle’s nomination are mixed, with significant opposition based on her personal and professional background.
Kathleen Dolan, a commentator on political nominations, criticized the choice, noting, "But making Guilfoyle an ambassador with her alleged history does continue the pattern that we have seen among a number of Trump nominees, one that he does not consider (sexual misconduct) a disqualifying issue in any forum."
Dolan’s remarks underscore the divisive nature of Guilfoyle's nomination, reflecting a broader societal split over issues of sexual misconduct and accountability. "It also a good mirror, I think, into where we still are in American society on sexual harassment," Dolan added.
President Trump has praised Guilfoyle for her "extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics," emphasizing her loyalty and work ethic as key factors in his decision to nominate her.
Speculation about the timing of Guilfoyle’s nomination coincides with reports of Donald Trump Jr. initiating a new romantic relationship.
Some analysts suggest this may conveniently pivot Guilfoyle away from the domestic political scene, a move Kathleen Dolan hinted at with her rhetorical question, "Is this the way to get her out of the way?"
