Deters says Guilfoyle and her lawyers can now defend their denial in a Kentucky court
Eric DetersKentucky businessman, retired lawyer and former Trump donor, in a statement issued with his lawsuit
In a statement issued with his defamation lawsuit, Eric Deters said Guilfoyle and her lawyers had called his allegations false and promised a vigorous defense, and said they could now do so in Kentucky.
Responding to
Kimberly Guilfoyle asked Eric Deters to pay her $100,000 American Express bill in July 2025 in exchange for helping him reach senior Trump administration officials.
“Kim Guilfoyle and her lawyers claimed my allegations were false and they would defend the allegations vigorously ... Now they can in Kentucky.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Eric Deters alleges Kimberly Guilfoyle offered administration access for $100,000; she denies it
Eric Deters, a Kentucky businessman and Trump donor, alleges that Kimberly Guilfoyle asked him in July 2025 to pay her $100,000 American Express bill while offering to help him reach senior Trump administration officials. The Wall Street Journal reported the allegation on October 7, 2026, citing messages Deters provided in which Guilfoyle asked him to wire the money. Deters says he did not pay and calls the exchange a quid pro quo. Guilfoyle's lawyers say Deters owed her about $150,000 for speeches and consulting work done before her nomination and that she was trying to collect it. Guilfoyle, who resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece on October 13, 2026 at the White House's request, says the allegations are false.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
CBS News report that Eric Deters sued Kimberly Guilfoyle and her lawyers, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, for defamation in Kentucky state court on October 15, 2026, and quoted the statement he issued with the suit.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece on October 13. Her lawyers had told The Wall Street Journal that she was owed a balance for traveling to and supporting events Deters organized, and her team disputed the authenticity of the text messages he released. Deters filed the lawsuit in Kentucky state court on October 15.
After the quotation
CBS News said it had asked the two lawyers named in the suit, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, for comment.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Eric Deters's allegation that Kimberly Guilfoyle, shortly before her July 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, asked him to pay her $100,000 American Express bill while offering to help him reach senior Trump administration officials. Condemned: Deters stands by the allegation and sues Guilfoyle and her lawyers over their public denial of it. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization; it loses because he does not recast the dispute but presses the allegation itself in court.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Kimberly Guilfoyle
More from this case
Read the full caseVance calls selling White House access "disgusting and despicable" but says he will judge on the facts
“First of all, if somebody's selling access to the White House, that's disgusting and despicable and they should suffer consequences ... I want to make those judgments based on the facts and not based on a random news media report that I read.”Read statement
Guilfoyle calls the allegations against her false as she leaves her post
“I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”Read statement
Trump says he did not like what he read about Guilfoyle
“She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading. ... I didn't speak to her, no. But she will not be there. I didn't like what I read.”Read statement
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- Deters says Guilfoyle and her lawyers can now defend their denial in a Kentucky court
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The Dispute Index. "Deters says Guilfoyle and her lawyers can now defend their denial in a Kentucky court". First published: 2026-10-16. Last updated: 2026-10-16. https://disputeindex.com/events/5871-in-a-statement-issued-with-his-defamation-lawsuit