Court filings lodged in Kentucky on October 15 detail a defamation action brought by Eric Deters against Kimberly Guilfoyle — who previously held the post of U.S. Ambassador to Greece — and several attorneys on her legal team, with Deters contending that their public responses to his allegations against Guilfoyle caused harm to his standing.
Through the lawsuit, Deters has indicated a plan to compel Donald Trump Jr.'s testimony via subpoena, gather relevant documents, and place Guilfoyle under oath for questioning. On October 15, speaking via a podcast on a prominent news network, Deters stated his intention to file suit against Kimberly Guilfoyle, noting that such an action would allow him to subpoena Donald Trump Jr.; he also outlined plans to seek relevant documents and take Guilfoyle's deposition, steps that could bring private correspondence involving people in Trump's inner circle into the public record.
No accusations of wrongdoing have been directed at Donald Trump Jr. in connection with the lawsuit, and whether Deters will move to formally obtain his testimony has yet to be determined.
Allegations at the core of the matter hold that Guilfoyle urged Deters to cover a $100,000 American Express balance during the weeks running up to her 2025 Senate confirmation hearing. Prior coverage had included text exchanges that, according to those reports, showed Guilfoyle turning to Deters for money — a figure who had previously paid her to appear at political gatherings.
According to Deters, Guilfoyle put forward an offer to connect him with high-ranking Trump administration figures over legal matters he wanted pursued. Lawyers representing Guilfoyle have pushed back on that account, raising doubts about whether the communications in question are genuine. Attorneys representing her have put forward the position that outstanding payment from prior work was owed to their client — a stance Deters disputes.
The filing of Deters' lawsuit came after representatives for Guilfoyle put out statements contesting his allegations and, according to reports, characterising him as someone engaged in blackmail. A lawsuit materialised around the same time Guilfoyle stepped down from her post as ambassador to Greece, with questions about her financial conduct having drawn attention in the period beforehand.
Facing the allegations, Guilfoyle has maintained her innocence and stated her intent to protect her name. No court has yet determined whether the claims at the heart of Deters' lawsuit hold up.
On October 12, an email that Deters reportedly sent — addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Donald Trump Jr. — laid out a proposition: he would drop any planned lawsuit against Guilfoyle provided the administration moved forward with extraditing Dr. Abubakar Durrani, a physician facing healthcare fraud charges. Deters has put forward the position that his conduct amounted to political pressure rather than extortion, framing the demands as an effort to obtain relief for people he characterised as victims.
No clear resolution exists on whether the lawsuit will ever bring Donald Trump Jr. before questioning. His remarks on the record point toward a legal fight extending well past Guilfoyle as an individual target.
