Top Lamont budget office official resigns after suspension

HARTFORD, Conn. — A top official in Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget office who played a key role in offshore wind projects and school construction grants has resigned pending what state officials called an investigation into “alleged misconduct.” Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, the deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Policy and Management, was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday. Max Reiss, a spokesperson for Lamont, confirmed that Diamantis had been removed from his deputy secretary position and placed on paid leave “because of a personnel matter that is still under review.” He did not elaborate. He provided a letter to Diamantis dated Thursday from the Department of Administrative Services that said he was being placed on leave “pending the results of an investigation into your alleged misconduct.” It noted that McCaw was informed Thursday of the “pending review into your alleged misconduct” and that she subsequently notified DAS of Diamantis’ decision to retire. Diamantis’ suspension and subsequent resignation come about a month after a Hartford Courant columnist wrote about Diamantis’ daughter being hired for a $99,000-a-year position in the Division of Criminal Justice “without any evident competition.” A spokesperson for the division said Anastasia Diamantis was encouraged to submit her resume “following an in-person inquiry about potential openings at the Division” and “it was determined her education and experience aligned with the current needs of the agency.” Kosta Diamantis is a lawyer and former Democratic state representative whose district included Bristol.