Trump Envoy's Dramatic Fall: Paolo Zampolli Fired Amid Feud and Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Donald Trump's former special envoy Paolo Zampolli was removed from his role on 15 October 2026 after a long‑running feud with a senior State Department official, a decision that has revived scrutiny of earlier allegations that he contacted a top US immigration official about his former partner during a bitter custody dispute.

The former modelling agent, who says he introduced Donald Trump to Melania Trump, was ousted after a protracted clash with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spilled into public view. The dispute involved angry emails, accusations of overstepping authority and threats of disciplinary action, according to reporting by Politico and other outlets.

But the controversy extends beyond Washington's internal power struggle.

Earlier reporting by The New York Times alleged that Zampolli contacted a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official after his former partner, Amanda Ungaro, was arrested in Miami, raising questions about whether political connections were used in a personal custody battle. Zampolli denies trying to influence her detention.

The ICE Controversy Behind the Custody Battle

According to a report by The New York Times published in March 2026, Zampolli contacted senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official David Venturella after learning that Ungaro, a Brazilian national and the mother of his teenage son, was being held in a Miami jail on fraud‑related charges.

The report stated that Zampolli told Venturella that Ungaro was in the United States illegally and asked whether she could be transferred into ICE custody. Venturella then contacted ICE's Miami office. Ungaro was subsequently detained by immigration authorities and deported to Brazil.

Zampolli acknowledged contacting Venturella but denied asking for a favour or attempting to influence ICE. He said he wanted to understand the situation and its implications. The Department of Homeland Security rejected claims that political favour determined Ungaro's detention and deportation.

Available reporting does not establish that Zampolli's contact caused that outcome. The allegation that he sought to use ICE to gain an advantage in the custody dispute remains contested and has not been established as wrongdoing.

A Bitter Feud Ends With Zampolli's Removal

The ICE controversy later became part of Zampolli's escalating clash with Landau, who repeatedly warned him to stay within the cultural‑diplomacy remit of his envoy role.

In an email dated 14 November 2025, Landau ordered Zampolli to stop working on matters not directly connected to cultural diplomacy, according to correspondence obtained by Politico.

Landau also warned that activities outside Zampolli's authority could lead to disciplinary action and legal consequences. Those warnings reflected Landau's accusations, not a court finding that Zampolli had broken the law.

Zampolli, in turn, accused Landau of obstructing his work and leaking damaging information to the media. Landau denied being the source of the reporting and described Zampolli's accusations as defamatory and inappropriate, according to published accounts.

On 15 October, a US official confirmed that Zampolli's appointment had been terminated and that he was no longer a government employee. Zampolli said he was not surprised and framed his departure as a return to business.

The timing followed the publication of the email dispute, although the precise reasons behind the decision have not been fully established publicly.

Separate Sexual Assault Lawsuit Adds to Scrutiny

Zampolli is facing a separate civil lawsuit filed by technology entrepreneur Victoria Drake in federal court in New York in September 2026. Drake alleges that he drugged and sexually assaulted her at his Manhattan townhouse in October 2023. These claims are set out in a civil complaint and have not been established by a court.

Zampolli has denied the allegations, described them as false and accused Drake of attempting to extort him. He has also pursued a complaint against her in Italy, according to reporting.

According to public docket information reviewed for this article, the case remains unresolved. The latest accessible docket entries are dated 4 September 2026, and any subsequent developments could not be independently confirmed.

There is no public evidence that the lawsuit was a factor in Zampolli's removal from his government role. Public reporting has identified the feud with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau as the immediate backdrop to his departure.