Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before Sentencing
The former budget official, convicted of corruption, is now a fugitive in Greece.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

FILE - Former Connecticut deputy budget director Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis, left, accompanied by his lawyer Vincent Provenzano, right, walks out of federal court on May 16, 2024, in Hartford, Conn. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant via AP, File) AP
Photograph: Boston.com (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Former Connecticut budget official Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, 70, has fled to Greece before his sentencing for corruption.
- Diamantis was convicted of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021.
- He travelled from Florida to the Bahamas by boat, then by plane to London before reaching Greece.
- Connecticut officials are taking steps to stop his state pension payments.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 19 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 1 of the 20 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
61/100
Hype
20/100
20 sources · methodology
Thin on the right so far
Only 2 of the 19 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
This story is still being watched, so it is a count and not yet a finding. Coverage keeps arriving for hours after an event, and a side that has published nothing this morning may publish by tonight. If it is still true when we stop checking, we will say so plainly.
Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, a former Connecticut budget official, has become a fugitive in Greece after fleeing the United States before his sentencing for corruption. Diamantis, 70, was convicted by a federal jury of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021. He was scheduled for sentencing on Thursday in federal court in Bridgeport.
Diamantis travelled from Florida to the Bahamas by boat, then took a plane to London before arriving in Greece. His lawyer, Norman Pattis, stated that Diamantis would not attend his sentencing. Federal prosecutors informed a judge that Diamantis had surrendered his U.S. passport but obtained a Greek passport. The prospects of his extradition are uncertain, as Greek law may prevent the extradition of Greek nationals.
Connecticut officials have condemned Diamantis' actions and are taking steps to halt his state pension payments. Governor Ned Lamont stated that Diamantis betrayed public trust and his efforts to avoid justice are shameful. State Attorney General William Tong added that his disappearance is an insult to the people of Connecticut.
Sentencing recommendations
Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years for Diamantis. His attorney, Norman Pattis, argued for a sentence that did not include prison time, but rather strict conditions of release. Pattis told reporters he was surprised by Diamantis' decision to flee, stating that while he could not support it as a lawyer, he understood it as a human being.
Diamantis' claims
Diamantis sent his attorney a 10-page email accusing Governor Ned Lamont of weaponizing the justice system against him. He denied wrongdoing and claimed his life and reputation were ruined by the prosecution. Diamantis also suggested that Lamont used his office and friendship with President Biden to create an unjust system to protect his own wrongdoing. He expressed hope that former President Donald Trump and the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington would review his case.
Omissions
None of the left-rated reports mention the specific prison sentence sought by prosecutors (10 to 12 years) or the defense's argument for no prison time. None of the right-rated reports mention Diamantis' email accusing Governor Ned Lamont of weaponizing the justice system or his claims about President Biden.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 17 Sept 2026, 22:00, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
10 rated outlets
- The left-rated reports focused on Diamantis fleeing the country before his sentencing for corruption. They noted his conviction for extorting private contractors and his travel route via the Bahamas and London to Greece. These reports also highlighted that Diamantis holds dual American and Greek citizenship, raising questions about extradition. Connecticut officials' condemnation of his actions and steps to stop his pension payments were also featured. Some reports mentioned Diamantis' email accusing Governor Ned Lamont of weaponizing the justice system.
Centre
7 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports also led with former Connecticut budget official Kosta Diamantis fleeing to Greece before his sentencing for corruption. They detailed his conviction for extorting contractors and his flight path by boat and plane. The dual citizenship and potential extradition issues were noted. Connecticut officials' reactions, including efforts to stop his pension, were included. Some reports mentioned Diamantis' email to his attorney, which accused Governor Ned Lamont of political weaponization.
Right
2 rated outlets
- The right-rated reports stated that former Connecticut budget official Kosta Diamantis fled to Greece before his sentencing for corruption. They mentioned his conviction for extorting private contractors and his travel by boat and plane. These reports also noted that Diamantis holds dual American and Greek citizenship, which could impede extradition. Connecticut officials' actions to stop his state pension payments were also included.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before…?
- Of the 19 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 53% are rated left, 36% are rated centre, 11% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 20. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before… left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 19 rated outlets on this story, 53% are rated left, 36% are rated centre, 11% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before… biased?
- Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before Sentencing is one event reported by 20 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before…?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered Former Connecticut Official Kosta Diamantis Flees to Greece Before…?
- 20 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- Why did Kosta Diamantis flee the country?
- Kosta Diamantis fled to Greece before his sentencing for corruption. He was convicted of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021. His attorney stated that Diamantis was facing a tough sentencing, and while the lawyer could not support his decision to flee, he understood it from a human perspective.
- How did Kosta Diamantis travel to Greece?
- Prosecutors stated that Diamantis travelled by boat from Florida to the Bahamas, then boarded a plane to London before reaching Greece. He had surrendered his U.S. passport but obtained a Greek passport.
- Can Kosta Diamantis be extradited back to the U.S.?
- It is unclear if Diamantis can be extradited. He holds both American and Greek citizenship, and Greek courts have previously upheld claims that the extradition of Greek nationals is forbidden.
- What actions are Connecticut officials taking?
- Connecticut officials are taking steps to stop Kosta Diamantis' state pension payments. Governor Ned Lamont condemned his actions as a betrayal of public trust, and State Attorney General William Tong called his disappearance a shameful insult.
Read it at the source
20 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
10- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Oskaloosa Herald in a new tab)
Oskaloosa Herald — is Oskaloosa Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Bangor Daily News in a new tab)
Bangor Daily News — is Bangor Daily News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens ABC News in a new tab)
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Associated Press News in a new tab)
Associated Press News — is Associated Press News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record — is The Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 2 more
- Kosta Diamantis flees to Greece, attorney says (opens Connecticut Public in a new tab)
Connecticut Public — is Connecticut Public biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Kosta Diamantis' attorney says he's in Greece on day he's supposed to be sentenced (opens NBC Connecticut in a new tab)
NBC Connecticut — is NBC Connecticut biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
7- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Boston.com in a new tab)
Boston.com — is Boston.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Daily News-Record in a new tab)
Daily News-Record — is Daily News-Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Henry Herald in a new tab)
Henry Herald — is Henry Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption – WTOP News (opens Washington Top News in a new tab)
Washington Top News — is Washington Top News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Former CT official facing possible lengthy prison time flees country (opens Hartford Courant in a new tab)
Hartford Courant — is Hartford Courant biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Kosta Diamantis flees to Greece, attorney says (opens The CT Mirror in a new tab)
The CT Mirror — is The CT Mirror biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens Winnipeg Free Press in a new tab)
Winnipeg Free Press — is Winnipeg Free Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
2- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens The Batesville Daily Guard in a new tab)
The Batesville Daily Guard — is The Batesville Daily Guard biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ex-Connecticut official flees to Greece before sentencing for corruption (opens MY Northwest in a new tab)
MY Northwest — is MY Northwest biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
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