US President Donald Trump's administration has asked Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign following mounting allegations of improper conduct, including claims that she offered access to senior administration officials in exchange for money.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the request on Tuesday, praising Guilfoyle's service while wishing her well.
It remains unclear whether Guilfoyle has formally submitted her resignation.
The decision follows weeks of reports detailing allegations involving Guilfoyle's diplomatic activities and financial dealings.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill shortly before her congressional confirmation hearing, allegedly promising access to administration officials in return.
The newspaper also reported that Guilfoyle suggested Washington could undermine the Greek government, promoted a Greek construction and energy company's interests and permitted its lobbyist to attend private diplomatic meetings.
Additional allegations concerned improper gifts, private aircraft travel and disputes surrounding a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Guilfoyle's lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the requested payment concerned outstanding compensation for speaking engagements and appearances predating her nomination.
They also said her private aircraft travel complied with State Department guidance and regulations.
Trump indicated Monday that he was considering removing Guilfoyle, expressing dissatisfaction with the allegations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially defended her performance but subsequently declined to assess the reports, questioning their reliability.
A US official told The Associated Press that the State Department's inspector general was examining the allegations, although whether a formal investigation had begun remained uncertain.
The department has declined to comment on a potential inquiry.
Senior Democratic lawmakers Gregory Meeks, Jeanne Shaheen and Robert Garcia have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle's conduct.
The requested resignation marks an escalation in scrutiny surrounding the ambassador, whose alleged actions have raised questions about diplomatic conduct and potential conflicts of interest.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor, was previously engaged to Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.