News + Press

Last night, Erin Stewart held a pre-convention rally amid mounting questions about why she charged more than $200,000 in personal expenses to a taxpayer-funded credit card. Despite promising “truth, accountability, and transparency,” Stewart offered no answers, and refused to answer a single question from reporters.

Despite saying she takes “any accusation involving trust very seriously,” Stewart’s only substantial comment on the actual reports was that she is “personally engaging a team to obtain and review all of these records.”

Instead, Stewart told supporters that the growing scandal surrounding her taxpayer-funded spending is what happens when “the political establishment realizes that you’re a threat to their power.” She blamed Democrats, the media, and her Republican opponents for “politically-motivated attacks” from people motivated by “personal vengeance.”

“My opponents; my opponents in this race, all of them, they are full of empty rhetoric and failed policies. I'm the one who's battle tested.”

But for the second day in a row, Stewart’s blame-deflecting defense did not deny or address the actual facts. 

• She didn’t deny using taxpayer dollars for home decorations, clothing, and beach toys. 

• She didn’t deny using taxpayer dollars to print her wedding shower invitations.

• She didn’t deny using taxpayer dollars to pay for her husband’s Trump-themed birthday party.

• She didn’t deny using taxpayer dollars to buy herself an $18,000 private club membership. 

• She didn’t deny falsely labeling these purchases as “office supplies,” or failing to provide receipts for more than half of her $200,000 credit card bill.

The question is not complicated: why were New Britain taxpayers paying for these personal items? What exactly was Erin Stewart thinking?

Erin Stewart already knows the answer to these questions, and pretending otherwise makes this rally look more like a delaying tactic than an act of transparency or accountability.

Statement from CT Dems Spokesperson Ian Clarke:

“Erin Stewart talked about accountability without taking any, promised transparency without offering any, and attacked everyone else in Connecticut politics without denying the accusations.” said CT Dems Spokesperson Ian Clarke. “She doesn’t need to review documents to remember whether she put an $18,000 club membership or $1,200 of bridal shower invitations on a taxpayer-funded purchasing card to have real answers. She has to come clean right now.”