Where Is Former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart After the Scandal?

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Erin Stewart was once considered a leading Republican candidate for governor of Connecticut. Then an independent investigation accused the former New Britain mayor of improperly using taxpayer money for personal and political expenses.

On May 14, 2026, shortly after the investigation’s findings became public, Stewart ended her campaign for governor. Since then, she has largely remained out of public view.

So where is Erin Stewart now, and what has happened with the investigations?

Stewart has not been arrested, indicted or formally charged with a crime, according to the latest publicly available information. However, state and federal investigations remain active, and the City of New Britain is seeking approximately $241,000 from her.

Stewart served as mayor of New Britain from 2013 until her term ended in November 2025. She did not resign as mayor because of the controversy. The allegations became public later, while she was campaigning for governor.

An independent investigation conducted by the Crumbie Law Group examined approximately $207,000 in purchases made with Stewart’s city-issued credit card between 2016 and 2025.

The law firm’s report concluded that many purchases appeared unrelated to legitimate city business and raised concerns about possible fraud, embezzlement and misuse of government property.

According to Channel 3/WFSB, the reported purchases included food and alcohol, clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, gifts, baby and party supplies, private-club expenses and costs allegedly associated with political activities.

The investigation also found that many transactions lacked supporting documentation.

These findings remain allegations from an independent investigation. Stewart has not been convicted of a crime and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Stewart initially described the investigation as politically motivated. After the final report became public, she said she was taking the allegations seriously and would repay any amount determined to be owed.

She ended her campaign for governor one day before the Connecticut Republican Party’s nominating convention.

Stewart’s former gubernatorial campaign returned approximately $183,175 in unused public campaign funding to Connecticut after she ended her campaign.

That payment was documented in her campaign committee’s termination report and represented money that remained from Connecticut’s Citizens’ Election Program.

However, that money was not repayment to New Britain for the disputed city expenses. The campaign funds and the money demanded by the city are two separate matters.

The City of New Britain has demanded approximately $241,560 from Stewart:

$102,294 for legal expenses connected to the independent investigation

$107,703.08 from a separation payment the city says was improperly calculated

$31,561.54 in tuition reimbursements the city maintains were not properly authorized

The first deadline, covering the legal expenses, passed on July 1 without payment. Mayor Bobby Sanchez subsequently directed the city’s attorneys to pursue all available legal remedies to recover the money.

The deadline for repayment of the disputed separation funds was August 1. The deadline for the tuition reimbursements is September 1.

No reliable public information reviewed by The New England Voice confirms that Stewart paid the August amount.

The city also rejected a pension arrangement involving Stewart, maintaining that she did not have the 20 years of service required under New Britain’s charter.

Despite rumors circulating online, there has been no official announcement that Stewart was arrested.

Some confusion may have resulted from comments made by a retired law-enforcement official who told Channel 3 that he expected the investigation could eventually result in search warrants or an arrest.

That was a prediction about what might happen. It was not confirmation that an arrest had occurred.

A federal grand jury has issued a subpoena requiring New Britain to provide documents involving Stewart’s city credit card, tuition reimbursements, Hartford Club membership and the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund.

NBC Connecticut reported that the FBI delivered the subpoena to the city as part of the investigation.

Connecticut State Police have also opened an investigation. The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office and Department of Consumer Protection have separately examined matters involving the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund.

A subpoena or criminal investigation does not mean that a person has been charged or found guilty.

Stewart has largely remained out of the public spotlight since ending her campaign for governor. There has been no widely reported return to political campaigning or public office.

Her personal location is not publicly reported. What is publicly known is that she is no longer New Britain’s mayor, is no longer running for governor and remains the subject of ongoing investigations.

Federal grand-jury proceedings are generally secret. The public may not receive additional information unless prosecutors file charges, close the investigation or issue another official statement.

For now, the case remains unresolved.

Stewart returned approximately $183,000 in unused gubernatorial campaign funds, but New Britain is seeking a separate payment of approximately $241,000. No arrest or criminal charges against Stewart have been publicly announced.