Connecticut’s attorney general and consumer protection commissioner opened an investigation into former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart’s handling of assets for a mayoral charity
Investigators subpoenaed Stewart and M&T Bank and sent a letter of inquiry to the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Stewart faces questioning under oath at a deposition
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli opened an investigation into former New Britain Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s use of funds held by the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, according to a joint press release.
Investigators identified two bank accounts with identical names, according to the CT Mirror: one managed by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain as a donor-advised fund, and a separate checking account at M&T Bank that the foundation does not oversee. Subpoenas went to Stewart and M&T Bank; a letter of inquiry went to the foundation. All three focused on the unaccounted-for checking account.
Investigators want to know whether Stewart controlled the checking account, its funding sources, and how its money was spent, according to the CT Mirror. The subpoena also requires her to answer questions under oath at a deposition.
The charity was founded by Stewart’s father, former Mayor Tim Stewart, originally to raise money for youth programs through golf tournaments. Erin Stewart continued it after taking office and expanded its scope. “It’s really become this holistic approach,” she said in a 2022 YouTube video. “It’s made a huge difference.” A golf tournament promotional video posted to her YouTube channel in April was later removed, according to the CT Mirror.
“It is our job to ensure charitable organizations adhere to all rules and regulations,” Tong and Cafferelli said in a joint statement. “This inquiry will follow the facts wherever they lead, without regard to politics or personalities.”
Stewart and her lawyer did not return requests for comment, according to the CT Mirror.
The charity investigation was the latest development in a cascade of troubles for Stewart since she ended her Republican gubernatorial campaign on May 14. An independent investigation found that the great majority of $207,076 in purchases she charged to her taxpayer-funded credit card over nearly a decade were personal and unrelated to city business, according to the Crumbie Law Group. A separate report found she collected $121,978 in separation payments investigators said she was not entitled to, according to Crumbie. The city’s total financial claims against her now appear to exceed $300,000, according to the CT Mirror.
By Kevin Coughlin
