Skip to content

PoliticsDeveloping

Donor Eric Deters sues former ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle for defamation

By

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 10 outlets across the spectrum.

14 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Side-by-side portraits of two people: a laughing bald man in a suit, and a woman with long hair.
Image via The HillHow images are chosenReport this image

Eric Deters, a Trump donor, has filed a defamation lawsuit against former U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and her lawyers. Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador this week after pressure from the White House. Deters says Guilfoyle asked him to pay a $100,000 American Express credit card bill in exchange for access to the Trump administration. Guilfoyle disputes the authenticity of text messages Deters shared with news outlets, and her lawyers have called the allegations false. Deters has also demanded that officials seek the extradition of a doctor who fled to Pakistan after being accused of unnecessary spinal surgeries, and has said the case could bring down the administration.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Eric Deters has filed a defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left2Center2Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    MeidasTouch, The New Republic
    Left
    The Independent, CBS News
    Center
    The Hill, Newsweek
    Right
    Washington Examiner, New York Post
    Far Right
    The Western Journal, Just the News
  2. Deters says Guilfoyle asked him to pay her $100,000 American Express credit card bill in exchange for access to the Trump administration.

    Reported byFar Left3Left2Center1Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast, MeidasTouch, The New Republic
    Left
    The Independent, CBS News
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    Washington Examiner, New York Post
    Far Right
    The Western Journal, Just the News
  3. Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece this week after pressure from the White House.

    Reported byCenter2Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    The Hill, Newsweek
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Just the News
  4. Guilfoyle disputes the authenticity of text messages Deters shared with news outlets, and her lawyers have called his allegations false.

    One outletJust the News· Far Right

  5. Deters has demanded that officials seek the extradition of Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani, who fled to Pakistan after being accused of unnecessary spinal surgeries.

    Reported byCenter1Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    New York Post
  6. Deters says the lawsuit could bring down the Trump administration.

    One side only: the leftReported byFar Left2Left1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    MeidasTouch, The New Republic
    Left
    The Independent

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Guilfoyle asked Deters for $100,000 to pay her credit card bill in exchange for access to the Trump administration.

    Deters makes the allegation and has shared text messages with news outlets, which The Wall Street Journal published, according to the Washington Examiner and Just the News. Guilfoyle disputes the authenticity of the texts, and her lawyers call the allegations false, according to Just the News.

  • Deters's demand for extradition is linked to his threat to release damaging information.

    The NY Post reports he threatened to release dirt on Trump and that he said this is not extortion. The Hill reports he would go after officials including JD Vance if they do not act, and the Daily Beast reports he is ready for a lengthy court battle.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports Deters's defamation suit against Guilfoyle and his allegation that she sought $100,000 for access, which her side disputes. Left headlines stress Deters's warnings about the administration, center headlines describe a legal filing, and right headlines focus on his extradition threat and a donor's downfall.

  • the left

    4 outlets · 1 opinion

    Left headlines lead with Guilfoyle begging for money and with Deters's claim that the suit could bring down the Trump administration; Far Left headlines are the most pointed.

    Donor Kimberly Guilfoyle begged for money files defamation suit that he says could ‘bring down entire Trump administration’
    The IndependentLeftAll left-leaning headlines
  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center headlines report the defamation suit as a filing against Guilfoyle and her lawyers, while Newsweek frames it as a personal setback for her.

    MAGA donor Loaded verb“hits”The verb suggests an attack, whereas the event reported is a lawsuit filing.More neutral: suesDisagree with this highlight? Guilfoyle, attorneys with defamation lawsuit
    The HillCenterAll center headlines
  • the right

    4 outlets

    Right headlines split: the NY Post stresses Deters's threat to release dirt on Trump; Far Right Just the News and Western Journal frame the suit as a donor's downfall and allegations.

    Donor Loaded verb“slaps”“Slaps” describes a legal filing in the language of an assault, where the neutral word is “files”.More neutral: filesDisagree with this highlight? suit against Guilfoyle, Loaded verb“threatens to release dirt on Trump”“Threatens” and “dirt” cast a conditional statement as a menace and unverified material as wrongdoing.More neutral: says he may release information about TrumpDisagree with this highlight? if Dehumanizing label“fraudster”“Fraudster” labels Durrani a criminal before a court has ruled; the coverage reports only accusations against him.More neutral: physician accused of fraudDisagree with this highlight? isn’t extradited: ‘This is not extortion’
    New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left5

    begging himbombshelldisgracedfall from glory

  • Center2

    hitsforced to resign

  • Right3

    slapsthreatens to release dirt on Trumpfraudster

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    begging himMore neutral: asked him for

    The outlet states as fact that Guilfoyle was begging, a characterization of an account that Deters makes and that is not confirmed in the coverage.

    The MAGA donor who exposed Kimberly Guilfoyle for begging him for $100,000 off the books claims his takedown of the now ex-ambassador is only the…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    bombshellMore neutral: recording

    The word presents an unverified recording as explosive in the outlet’s own voice.

    …he has sued Kimberly Guilfoyle, wants to depose Donald Trump Jr., and possesses a bombshell recording that could threaten the political futures of JD Vance and Marco Rubio.

    Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    hitsMore neutral: sues

    The verb suggests an attack, whereas the event reported is a lawsuit filing.

    MAGA donor hits Guilfoyle, attorneys with defamation lawsuit

    Used byThe Hill (Center)

  • Loaded modifier

    disgracedMore neutral: former

    The word pronounces a verdict of wrongdoing on the former ambassador, while the reported facts are an allegation and a lawsuit.

    …announced in a video Thursday that he had filed a defamation lawsuit against the disgraced former U.S.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Show 6 more phrasesShow fewer
  • Sensational language

    fall from gloryMore neutral: removal from her post

    The phrase is a figurative verdict on her career that adds drama beyond the reported ouster.

    Deters became ensnared in Guilfoyle’s fall from glory last week, when The Wall Street Journal reported that she had begged him to pay…

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    BeggedMore neutral: asked

    The word characterizes the manner of the request beyond the reported messages, which show a request rather than a plea.

    Kimberly Guilfoyle Sued by Man She Begged to Pay Her Amex Bill

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    slapsMore neutral: files

    “Slaps” describes a legal filing in the language of an assault, where the neutral word is “files”.

    Donor slaps suit against Guilfoyle, threatens to release dirt on Trump if fraudster isn’t…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    threatens to release dirt on TrumpMore neutral: says he may release information about Trump

    “Threatens” and “dirt” cast a conditional statement as a menace and unverified material as wrongdoing.

    Donor slaps suit against Guilfoyle, threatens to release dirt on Trump if fraudster isn’t extradited: ‘This is not extortion’

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    fraudsterMore neutral: physician accused of fraud

    “Fraudster” labels Durrani a criminal before a court has ruled; the coverage reports only accusations against him.

    Donor slaps suit against Guilfoyle, threatens to release dirt on Trump if fraudster isn’t extradited: ‘This is not extortion’

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    forced to resignMore neutral: asked to resign

    The reported account is that the White House said she had been asked to resign, and forced adds coercion the description does not document.

    …donor Eric Deters has sued Kimberly Guilfoyle for defamation, days after she was forced to resign as ambassador.

    Used byNewsweek (Center)

Words quoted from someone else (3)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    I Brought Down KimberlyMore neutral: Deters says he exposed Kimberly Guilfoyle

    The headline presents Deters’s self-description as an established fact, and the verb ‘brought down’ adds drama to an unverified account.

    I Brought Down Kimberly—and Best Is Yet to Come: Eric Deters

    Quoted byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

    These are Eric Deters’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    Bring DownMore neutral: could affect

    The headline gives dramatic weight to a predicted effect that the article itself says has not been independently verified.

    Trump Donor at Center of Guilfoyle Scandal Says It Could 'Bring Down' White House

    Quoted byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

    These are Eric Deters’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    begged himMore neutral: asked him

    The word characterizes the manner of the request beyond what the reported messages show; the outlet relays the Wall Street Journal’s account.

    …fall from glory last week, when The Wall Street Journal reported that she had begged him to pay her $100,000 American Express credit card bill in exchange for special access…

    Quoted byThe New Republic (Far Left)

    These are The Wall Street Journal’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

4 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Deters's claim the suit could bring down the Trump administration
  • Guilfoyle begging for money
  • pay-to-play allegations
  • threat to Vance and Rubio

Leaves out

  • Deters's demand for extradition of the doctor who fled to Pakistan
  • Guilfoyle's dispute over the authenticity of the texts

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • Kimberly Guilfoyle now facing defamation lawsuit from donor who accused her of pay-to-play scheme

    Businessman Eric Deters, a longtime Trump supporter who accused Kimberly Guilfoyle of pressuring him to pay her $100,000 American Express credit card bill in exchange for White House access, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the former U.S. ambassador to Greece. …

    1 more from CBS News
  • Donor Kimberly Guilfoyle begged for money files defamation suit that he says could ‘bring down entire Trump administration’

    Eric Deters warned the lawsuit ‘may end the JD Vance/Marco Rubio ticket’

  • Kimberly Guilfoyle Sued by Man She Loaded verb“Begged”The word characterizes the manner of the request beyond the reported messages, which show a request rather than a plea.More neutral: askedDisagree with this highlight? to Pay Her Amex Bill

    Kimberly Guilfoyle is having a rough week. MAGA donor and former congressional candidate Eric Deters announced in a video Thursday that he had filed a defamation lawsuit against the Loaded modifier“disgraced”The word pronounces a verdict of wrongdoing on the former ambassador, while the reported facts are an allegation and a lawsuit.More neutral: formerDisagree with this highlight? former U.S. ambassador to Greece and her lawyers. …

  • Loaded verb“I Brought Down Kimberly”The headline presents Deters’s self-description as an established fact, and the verb ‘brought down’ adds drama to an unverified account.More neutral: Deters says he exposed Kimberly GuilfoyleThese are Eric Deters’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?—and Best Is Yet to Come: Eric Deters

    The MAGA donor who exposed Kimberly Guilfoyle for Loaded verb“begging him”The outlet states as fact that Guilfoyle was begging, a characterization of an account that Deters makes and that is not confirmed in the coverage.More neutral: asked him forDisagree with this highlight? for $100,000 off the books claims his takedown of the now ex-ambassador is only the beginning. …

  • MeidasTouchFar LeftOpinion

    Trump Donor at Center of Guilfoyle Scandal Says It Could 'Sensational language“Bring Down”The headline gives dramatic weight to a predicted effect that the article itself says has not been independently verified.More neutral: could affectThese are Eric Deters’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?' White House

    Eric Deters says he has sued Kimberly Guilfoyle, wants to depose Donald Trump Jr., and possesses a Sensational language“bombshell”The word presents an unverified recording as explosive in the outlet’s own voice.More neutral: recordingDisagree with this highlight? recording that could threaten the political futures of JD Vance and Marco Rubio.

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • defamation filing against Guilfoyle and her lawyers
  • Guilfoyle's bad week and ouster
  • Deters's ties to Trump
See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

4 outlets

Leads with

  • Deters's threat to release dirt on Trump
  • extradition demand for an alleged fraudster
  • alleged corruption
  • Guilfoyle's downfall

Leaves out

  • Deters's claim that the suit could bring down the administration or threaten Vance and Rubio

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Eric Deters files defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle in Kentucky state court

    Deters said that Guilfoyle's legal team gave a statement to the Wall Street Journal claiming that Deters owed Guilfoyle money for traveling to and supporting "patriotic events."

    1 more from Just the News
  • Trump Donor Behind Scandal Allegations Takes Legal Action Against Kimberly Guilfoyle

    The Trump donor who claimed Kimberly Guilfoyle asked him to pay down $100,000 of credit card charges in exchange for access to top officials is now taking legal action against

  • Donor Loaded verb“slaps”“Slaps” describes a legal filing in the language of an assault, where the neutral word is “files”.More neutral: filesDisagree with this highlight? suit against Guilfoyle, Loaded verb“threatens to release dirt on Trump”“Threatens” and “dirt” cast a conditional statement as a menace and unverified material as wrongdoing.More neutral: says he may release information about TrumpDisagree with this highlight? if Dehumanizing label“fraudster”“Fraudster” labels Durrani a criminal before a court has ruled; the coverage reports only accusations against him.More neutral: physician accused of fraudDisagree with this highlight? isn’t extradited: ‘This is not extortion’

    A trained lawyer and former Trump donor unveiled a defamation lawsuit against former US Ambassador to Greece Kimberley Guilfoyle as part of an apparent ploy to win the extradition of an alleged fraudster.

  • Kimberly Guilfoyle faces new defamation lawsuit after ambassador exit over alleged corruption

    The Republican donor whose alleged text exchanges with former U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle led to her recent resignation from the position is suing her over allegations that she made false statements about him. …

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    10 hr 28 min later

    Its first report, Oct 14, 8:59 PM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    The Hill, Oct 14, 10:31 AM EDT

  • Right

    1 day 6 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 15, 5:26 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The HillCenterOct 14, 10:31 AM EDT
  2. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 14, 8:59 PM EDT
  3. CBS NewsLeftOct 15, 2:54 PM EDT
  4. The New RepublicFar LeftOct 15, 3:03 PM EDT
  5. The IndependentLeftOct 15, 4:33 PM EDT
  6. Washington ExaminerRightOct 15, 5:26 PM EDT
  7. New York PostRightOct 15, 5:46 PM EDT
  8. The Western JournalFar RightOct 15, 6:23 PM EDT
  9. NewsweekCenterOct 15, 6:34 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

Help someone else find the truth beneath the surface

Most people see one side of a story. Share this one, so they can see how every side is telling it and decide for themselves.

Email it

Seen a mistake? Tell us what is wrong with this page