Diamantis Defends Fleeing to Greece Before Sentencing

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Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, a former Connecticut school-construction official, is defending his decision to leave for Greece before sentencing.

A federal jury convicted him on 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators over school projects. He was due in court last week. He holds US and Greek citizenship.

On Tuesday he spoke to Connecticut Public by FaceTime. He said he is not in Greece to relax. He said he is working on his defence.

“Ordinarily, Greece does bring about emotions to enjoy and relax and see the beauty of the country and the people but that’s not why I’m here.”

He said he will not spend a day in jail for something he says he did not do. He has applied for a pardon from President Trump and asked the US Justice Department to review the case. He also objects to the state cutting off direct-deposit pension payments after he left.

“You can imagine that five years with a loss of income is substantial for anybody. And now, I’m 70. Everything that I’ve earned over 30 years has been taken away.” He said the pension and Social Security are how he can “at least take care of myself.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Diamantis “abused the public trust.” “His disappearance … is a shameful insult to every person in Connecticut and will not deter our efforts to fully protect the state’s interest and taxpayer dollars.”

Asked if he would return voluntarily for sentencing or an appeal, Diamantis said: “I’ll know it when I make that decision. I’ll know when it’s right.”

Governor Ned Lamont said a jury of his peers found him guilty and that he was surprised the media gave him a platform. Diamantis answered that he was surprised the governor “is afraid” of that platform. He said the jury sat for three weeks and deliberated about six hours, and that he does not accept the verdict. He called the case retaliation and said he did not get a fair trial.

His lawyer, he said, told him he would have almost no chance of staying free during an appeal. “If I spent a day in jail, it’s a day that I didn’t deserve, and a day that I spent in jail would lead people to believe that I’m guilty.”

Source: Frankie Graziano, Connecticut Public Radio, 22 September 2026.

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