Agent Koutris: Were his actions "above board" or was he corrupt?
I know this has been discussed in the past, with some excellent points made, but never reaching any consensus one way or the other. So I'd like to hear if you think FBI Agent Koutris' protection of/leaking information to The Greek was above board or corrupt? And why?
ABOVE BOARD ARGUMENT: Koutris was working in counterterrorism (FBI's highest priority post 9/11) and The Greek was an important informant. (The only proof of this we see is The Greek giving Koutris information on a Colombian drug cartel, which is technically considered a terrorist organization). Supposedly it makes sense for him to protect The Greek and turn a blind eye to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and murders because these things were trivial in comparison to catching terrorist targets. Also, Agent Fitzhugh's reaction to figuring this out was very nonchalant, like it's just business as usual for the FBI. That makes me wonder if what Koutris was doing was "above board" or at least openly tolerated in the FBI.
CORRUPT ARGUMENT: Some people have said that the relationship between The Greek and Koutris was inspired by the real-life corruption scandal involving FBI agent John Connolly and Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger. That there is no way the FBI could justify protecting a man who is implicated in multiple murders, human trafficking, and other serious offenses. That it was unethical and criminal for Koutris to tell The Greek that Sobotka was cooperating with the cops, knowing that The Greek would have Sobotka killed. This seems very similar to real-life Agent Connolly and mob boss Whitey Bulger. Connolly was convicted of second degree murder for giving informant information to Bulger, which led to Bulger ordering a hit on the informant. But if Koutris was corrupt, Fitzhugh's reaction doesn't seem appropriate. He doesn't even consider "doing the right thing" and blowing the whistle on Koutris. Maybe because he wants to protect himself from career death by being sent "to a reservation out in Montana," but he still acts like it's no big deal.