Erin Stewart Suspends Campaign After $207,000 City Card Review
erin stewart suspended her gubernatorial campaign after an independent investigation found that most of her city credit card spending was largely unrelated to municipal business. The review said the purchases stretched across 12 years in office and involved $207,000 in city-issued charges.
Democratic Mayor Bobby Sanchez released the report on Thursday and said Stewart’s spending was “wholly unrelated” to municipal business. He also said Connecticut State Police- Central District Major Crime has initiated an investigation into this matter.
Bobby Sanchez Releases Report
The investigation was led by the Crumbie Law Group and was commissioned by the New Britain mayor’s office. Sanchez said Stewart showed a reckless disregard for policies that govern the use of public funds, and the report said she misused the card in a blatant violation of city policies.
In his statement, Sanchez said, “From day one, I made a commitment to the people of New Britain that there would be accountability, transparency, and a full review of any allegations involving the misuse of taxpayer resources.” He added, “This report confirms what many feared: there was a deeply troubling pattern of abuse involving public funds, repeated violations of City policy, and conduct that represented a serious breach of the public trust.”
City Card Purchases
The report said Stewart’s card was used for cat toys, gag gifts, lingerie, makeup, home decorations, items for a Peppa Pig birthday party and other parties. It also said the card was used for personal purchases, family expenses, political-related activity, private club memberships, clothing, gifts, travel and other non-government purposes over nearly a decade.
Sanchez said Stewart declined to be interviewed for the investigation, asked for prepared questions to be forwarded to her, and then ignored another interview request after she was told that could not be done. The report also said she disguised purchases as misc office supplies or misc expense incurred in the admin. of the office.
State Police Review
State police said they received a complaint and were asked to investigate on Thursday. Stewart was not facing charges at that point, while the investigation itself remained active after the report’s release.
For Stewart, the immediate consequence is political as well as legal: her campaign is on hold while the spending review and the state police inquiry move ahead. For New Britain, the report now sits at the center of the city’s effort to examine how public funds were used over nearly a decade.
