Trump's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigns after allegations of improper conduct

The White House asked U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign Tuesday. She announced her departure less than two hours later, after several days of reports about alleged misconduct in Athens. Guilfoyle says she will defend her name.

Reports described claims involving gifts, an alleged threat to a Greek official and a request that a Trump donor pay a credit-card bill before her confirmation hearing, with access to officials promised in return. Guilfoyle's lawyers deny wrongdoing and say the money was for earlier speaking engagements. The allegations remain disputed.

President Trump said he had not spoken with Guilfoyle but did not like what he was reading. At her first briefing Tuesday, press secretary Katie Zacharia called Guilfoyle a wonderful asset. The White House had confirmed its resignation request before Guilfoyle announced her departure.

A U.S. official told the AP that the State Department's inspector general was looking into the allegations. The official could not say whether a formal investigation had begun. The State Department has declined to comment on a possible inquiry.

Guilfoyle had emphasized energy issues, and her reported ties to sector executives were among the allegations. Greece's geography and energy routes give the ambassador's post broader regional importance. Whether the inspector general opens a formal inquiry is a key unresolved question.