Former Connecticut budget official arrested on federal charges

A former top official in Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget office who played a key role in school construction grants and offshore wind projects was arrested Thursday morning on federal charges, a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, a former state representative from Bristol and a lawyer, was expected to appear in Hartford federal court at a time to be determined, said spokesman Thomas Carson. Details of the arrest are under seal and were not available.

Diamantis, a former deputy secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, resigned in October 2021 on the same day he was placed on paid administrative pending a misconduct investigation, according to a letter from the state’s personnel office.

A message was left seeking comment Thursday with Diamantis. In 2021, Diamantis told The Associated Press he could not discuss the investigation but he believed he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for Lamont did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Diamantis’ arrest.

In March 2022, state officials received a federal grand jury subpoena seeking electronic communications dating to Jan. 1, 2018, involving Diamantis and the “planning, bidding, awarding and implementation” of school construction projects, upgrades at the state pier in New London, and hazardous material abatement projects.

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