Former Connecticut budget official convicted of extorting school construction contractors
A former senior official in Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s administration has been convicted of extorting private contractors for bribes while overseeing multimillion-dollar school construction projects. The case highlights how public trust can be compromised when officials misuse their positions, and the ongoing scrutiny of state contracting practices.
Konstantinos Diamantis : From lawmaker to federal convict
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, 69, a former Democratic state representative and lawyer, was found guilty by a federal jury in Bridgeport on more than 20 counts, including extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and making false statements, as reported by the Associated Press. Sentencing is scheduled for 14 January, 2026.Diamantis, who served as director of the state’s Office of School Construction Grants and Review from 2018 to 2021, used his role to demand and receive thousands of dollars from contractors in exchange for helping them secure or maintain state-funded contracts. Witnesses testified that he received cash in envelopes at locations ranging from a Hartford restaurant’s men’s room to a doughnut shop and his Farmington home. Some payments were coded in messages as “birthday cards,” “pars” and “birdies,” the Associated Press reports.After the verdict, Diamantis maintained his innocence, saying he had hoped for a different outcome. His lawyer, Norman Pattis, called the conviction a “disappointment” and indicated they would appeal, warning that Diamantis could face a “catastrophic sentence” of ten years or more, according to AP.
Evidence and testimonies
Prosecutors presented emails and texts showing Diamantis pressuring contractors for cash. In one instance, he told a masonry company vice president, “I’ve done my part, I need action,” prompting the executive to describe Diamantis as “like a vulture” to his company president. Both men later pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe the former official, AP reports.Diamantis admitted receiving the money but argued it was legitimate consulting income. He denied leveraging his position to secure payments or an inflated-salary position for his daughter. During the trial, he testified that he had researched state ethics rules and believed the payments were legal.
Governor Lamont distances administration
Governor Lamont has distanced himself from Diamantis, noting that he did not hire the official and removed him from his posts in 2021 after allegations of ethical misconduct emerged. Lamont ordered an independent review of the school construction grant programme, resulting in several procedural changes. In a statement to AP, he emphasised that public service is a matter of trust and that violations have consequences.“Public service is a public trust,” Lamont said. “The conviction of Mr. Diamantis is a stark reminder that when that trust is violated, there are consequences. Safeguarding that trust and taxpayer dollars is of the utmost importance to my administration,” AP reports.
Broader implications
The conviction underscores the risks posed by individuals exploiting oversight roles in public spending. A second federal case against Diamantis remains pending. In that case, he pleaded not guilty to allegations that he helped cancel the audit of a physician who later admitted to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, allegedly in exchange for bribes.For Connecticut, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and oversight in public contracts, particularly those involving critical infrastructure like schools.
