Top Connecticut Republicans Urge Erin Stewart to Quit Governor Race Over $200,000 in Card Spending
Updated
Updated · Hartford Courant · May 14
Top Connecticut Republicans Urge Erin Stewart to Quit Governor Race Over $200,000 in Card Spending
4 articles · Updated · Hartford Courant · May 14
House leader Vincent Candelora and Senate leader Stephen Harding said Erin Stewart should consider leaving the GOP governor's race before Saturday's convention, calling the reported city-card spending at least alarming and potentially criminal.
More than $200,000 in purchases tied to New Britain's city credit card included diapers, cosmetics, toys and home goods; most were logged as office supplies, and more than half lacked receipts.
The pressure lands days before 1,106 delegates gather at the Mohegan Sun convention, where Stewart faces Ryan Fazio and Betsy McCaughey; Candelora said some delegates have already shifted to Fazio.
Stewart and adviser John Healey say she is the target of a political hit and will keep fighting, but she has said she will explain the spending only after the convention and declined reporters' questions Tuesday.
The dispute has widened into a general-election liability argument, with Republicans warning Stewart could blunt attacks on Gov. Ned Lamont's ethics record even as Lamont and Democrats demand immediate answers.
How did a mayor's decade of financial misuse go undetected by city oversight?
After repaying over $200,000, what legal consequences does the former official now face?