US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle announces resignation

Kimberly Guilfoyle is stepping down as the US Ambassador to Greece at the behest of the White House amid a misconduct probe after she allegedly asked for payment from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials.

The White House announces US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle's formal resignation Tuesday morning after US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly grown furious over a string of reports that she has engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before and during her tenure in Athens.

Freshly minted White House press secretary Katie Zacharia tells reporters at her inaugural media briefing that Guilfoyle was asked to step down.

She says, "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well."

Shortly afterwards, Guilfoyle declares on social media she is leaving the post.

The former Fox News host says serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honour of a lifetime, and insists she would "vigorously defend" her name, her reputation and her integrity to address what she calls "false" allegations.

The Wall Street Journal has reported in a series of stories since late September that Guilfoyle asked a Republican donor to pay a 100,000-dollar credit card bill, offering to use her influence inside the administration in return.

Guilfoyle's attorneys said in a statement on Sunday she had done nothing wrong and claimed the money she sought was payment for services, which they explained as public appearances and speaking engagements that predate her ambassadorial nomination.

Kiki Sideris from the Associated Press says: "The Journal also reported questions about whether she promoted a Greek company's business interests and allowed its lobbyists into private diplomatic meetings. Guilfoyle's lawyers deny wrongdoing."

"They say the money was for unpaid speaking engagements from before when she was nominated."

The lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, rejected allegations about any impropriety related to Guilfoyle's travel on private planes, saying she "sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the Department's travel regulations."

In his first comments about the firing of his Greek envoy, who was also his eldest son's ex-fiancee, Trump states his administration didn't like what they were reading about Guilfoyle.

(Reporter: Mr. President, on Kimberly Guilfoyle, she was almost a member of your family. How surprised were you to learn about these allegations?)

Trump says: "No, she wasn't a member of my family. She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago, but she wasn't, no. She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading, so."

(Reporter: Did you speak with Kimberly Guilfoyle personally, and what did she say to you?)

Trump says: "I didn't speak to her, no, but she will not be there. I didn't like what I read."

In Athens, some of the local residents reacted the dismissal was "reasonable" and "right" if Guilfoyle did everything she's being accused of. Some others think she should have been more discreet in the position to balance power.

Another resident notes Guilfoyle expressed stronger support for Greece, which was good for Greeks, but she paid the price for it.