Ex-Connecticut budget official misses sentencing and turns up in Greece, attorney says

Former Connecticut official Kosta Diamantis skipped federal sentencing and surfaced in Greece, his lawyer said, leaving courts and taxpayers to pursue accountability abroad.

Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis failed to appear Thursday morning in federal court in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His attorney, Norm Pattis, told the court that Diamantis had called from Greece the night before, WTNH reported.

Diamantis had been scheduled for sentencing after a jury convicted him on 21 counts, including bribery, extortion, and lying to federal investigators. He previously served as Connecticut’s deputy budget director and oversaw state funding for school construction.

Senior Judge Stefan R. Underhill called the trip “a clear violation of the terms of his bond and release.” Underhill said he intended to issue a bench warrant for Diamantis.

Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon also stopped the direct deposit of Diamantis’ monthly pension payment. The amount of that payment was not disclosed.

A boat and two flights carried Diamantis beyond U.S. borders

A federal prosecutor described an indirect route out of the country. Diamantis drove from Connecticut to Florida, took a boat to the Bahamas, and then flew to London.

The New York Post reported that Diamantis continued to Greece after London. He had surrendered his U.S. passport but obtained a Greek passport, the newspaper reported.

Diamantis is a dual Greek-American citizen. Greece has an extradition treaty with the United States, though the New York Post described the extradition process as uncertain for Greek nationals.

Pattis told the court he could not endorse his client’s choice:

“As a lawyer, you know, I cannot support his decision to take the law into his own hands.”

But Pattis also said he understood why Diamantis went to Greece. He contrasted prison during Diamantis’ senior years with remaining abroad, though no sentence had yet been imposed.

The government’s position was far tougher. The Washington Examiner reported that prosecutors sought a prison term of 10 to 12 years.

That gap matters. The defense attorney spoke of five years, while prosecutors sought more than twice that term. The judge had not settled the question because Diamantis never appeared for sentencing.

Jurors rejected Diamantis’ explanation for the cash

At trial, federal prosecutors presented text messages and witnesses. One witness said he delivered thousands of dollars in cash to Diamantis at his home, a coffee shop, and a Hartford steakhouse.

Prosecutors alleged that Diamantis demanded payments from contractors involved in school construction and threatened their contracts if they refused. Jurors convicted him on all 21 counts described in the coverage.

Diamantis testified that the cash paid for legal work. He also said one payment involved an introduction to leaders of an influential construction company.

Jury foreperson Nkong Tankeng later explained the panel’s view of that testimony:

“How he carried himself and his character just wasn’t credible enough for me.”

Public corruption cases demand firm answers, whether they involve Connecticut contracts or an alleged pandemic-relief fraud case. Taxpayers should not finance government only to watch insiders treat public funds as personal property.

Lamont promoted Diamantis before removing him

Former Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy first appointed Diamantis to oversee school construction funding. Gov. Ned Lamont later gave him the added title of deputy budget director while keeping him in the construction role.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, the Republican nominee for governor, argued that Lamont must answer for promoting Diamantis. Fazio said leaders bear responsibility for misconduct that occurs on their watch.

Fazio put the standard plainly:

“When you’re in office, you should take responsibility for what occurs under your watch.”

Lamont responded that Diamantis lost his job once state leaders learned about the matter. He also said the federal government was “responsible for tracking him” after his conviction.

That does not settle the political question. Removing an official after misconduct emerges differs from explaining how he gained power over taxpayer-funded contracts in the first place.

Voters have seen the same demand for records and direct answers in other disputes, including the campaign payment questions surrounding former federal officials. Public office does not erase the duty to explain.

Diamantis’ defense team initially subpoenaed Lamont to testify during the trial. The defense withdrew that subpoena after prosecutors and Underhill questioned whether the governor’s testimony was relevant.

After Diamantis missed sentencing, Lamont said he was shocked that a defendant facing such a serious judgment could leave the country. He called for federal authorities to hold him accountable.

Connecticut cut the pension payment as the court prepared a warrant

Scanlon announced the pension action after officials confirmed Diamantis had not appeared. The comptroller tied the cutoff directly to the conviction and departure.

“This morning, upon confirmation that Kosta Diamantis did not appear at his sentencing and has fled the country, I have discontinued the direct deposit of his monthly pension payment. No one who has been convicted of defrauding the taxpayers and is now fleeing justice should continue receiving a pension.”

The move stopped direct deposit, but the available details did not explain whether Connecticut permanently ended the pension. They also did not state how much Diamantis received each month.

Diamantis had remained free on the condition that he appear for sentencing and another trial later in the year. That separate proceeding also involves public corruption charges.

His nonappearance now adds another legal problem to an already serious case. Federal courts must still address custody, sentencing, and the mechanics of returning him from Greece.

Other political defendants must also answer in court, as shown by the New Jersey court fight involving a Democratic official. Party status cannot become a shield from the ordinary legal process.

Taxpayers kept their side of the bargain. Public officials and the justice system must now keep theirs.