News + Press

When news broke on Sunday that Erin Stewart had spent years shopping for personal items with her taxpayer-funded credit card, her team told reporters that they were parsing the documents and would prepare a full explanation for the following day. 

Instead, with this statement, we’re once again seeing the usual pattern from Stewart: more spin to blame others, distracting from the issues rather than actually addressing the substance of these alarming concerns. She has repeatedly refused to take responsibility or provide clear accountability – whether in response to the tax collector allegations, questions about unreported bribe offers, or her attempt to pursue a self-awarded pension with no clear legal basis.

To be clear: what Stewart’s team dismissively calls “office makeup and business lunches” was over $200,000 she charged to her city purchasing card:

• Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing.

• A salad spinner.

• Beach and pool toys.

• Cosmetics and a lighted vanity mirror.

• Bed linens and home decorations.

• Diapers and groceries.

• An $18,000 private club membership.

• Her husband’s 40th birthday party.
  

Additionally, Stewart failed to corroborate more than half of that massive credit card bill with actual receipts. What else did she buy?

New Britain residents, taxpayers and voters are entitled to the truth and their own audit, not another cover up. 

Statement from CT Dems spokesperson Ian Clarke:

“As usual, Erin Stewart blames everyone else in the room because she cannot possibly explain her abuse of office. The notion that an $18,000 private club membership, her husband’s birthday party, or bridal shower invitations are ‘office supplies’ is patently absurd – which is why she doesn’t even try to defend it. 

Her statement does not deny the actual accusations because they are backed up by her own records. She cannot distract the people of New Britain, or the rest of Connecticut, from the reality that she spent taxpayers money as if it were her own.”