Erin Stewart Suspends Governor Bid After $207,076 City Card Probe Urges Criminal Review
Updated
Updated · The Connecticut Mirror · May 14
Erin Stewart Suspends Governor Bid After $207,076 City Card Probe Urges Criminal Review
3 articles · Updated · The Connecticut Mirror · May 14
Erin Stewart halted her gubernatorial campaign and backed Republican rival Ryan Fazio after a city-commissioned report said most of $207,076 charged to her municipal credit card over nearly a decade was unrelated to city business.
The 18-page report by Crumbie Law Group said the spending was a repeated, deliberate bypass of purchasing rules that benefited Stewart, her family and her campaigns, and could support state and federal fraud, larceny, embezzlement and wire-fraud charges.
Mayor Bobby Sanchez said New Britain will refer the findings to the U.S. Attorney and Connecticut chief state's attorney, while also pursuing recovery of taxpayer money, including possible civil action against Stewart.
The report cited Amazon, Costco and Hartford Club charges nearing $100,000, including baby supplies, family parties, birthday meals, $19,260 in club costs and 2025 airfare tied partly to her gubernatorial effort.
Stewart had called the inquiry a witch hunt, but on Thursday said she would step back from public life and make restitution as the GOP convention approaches, where she had been favored to secure enough support for an August primary and nearly $3 million in public financing.
How did a mayor’s alleged misuse of funds go unchecked for nearly a decade?
What loopholes allowed a city credit card to fund personal shopping and political trips?
Erin Stewart’s $207,000 City Credit Card Scandal Forces Campaign Suspension and Triggers Criminal Probe in Connecticut
Overview
On May 14, 2026, Erin Stewart suspended her Connecticut gubernatorial campaign after the Crumbie Law Group released a report detailing serious allegations of misconduct. The investigation uncovered a consistent pattern of abuse involving public funds and repeated violations of city policy, including the alleged misuse of a city-issued credit card for personal and campaign expenses. These revelations led to strong condemnation from public officials and created an untenable situation for Stewart’s campaign. Her exit immediately reshaped the Republican primary, clearing the way for the remaining candidates as the party prepared for its upcoming convention.