Connecticut AG, consumer protection subpoena gubernatorial candidate Erin Stewart's records of her charity

Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant on Jun 3, 2026

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HARTFORD, Conn. — Two state agencies disclosed Wednesday they are investigating a charity operated by former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who has been criticized recently for benefiting personally from spending decisions she made while in office.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli and Attorney General William Tong said they have subpoenaed records and are seeking other information as part of an examination of Stewart’s handling of charitable assets of the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund managed by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.

Among other things, Caffarelli served a subpoena on Stewart, ordering her to appear for a deposition with records of a checking account associated with the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, including records of who controls the account, all financial activity beginning in January 2020 and any records of fundraising associated with the charity.

A similar subpoena was served on M&T Bank, where the checking account was opened.

Tong’s office sent a separate letter to the Community Foundation requesting information about the history and purpose of the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, how distributions are made from the fund, the purpose of the M&T checking account and a record of all donations to the charity from the checking account.

“It is our job to ensure charitable organizations adhere to all rules and regulations, and it is our priority to give donors confidence that when they give to charity, their contributions are used as intended,” Tong and Cafferelli said. “This inquiry will follow the facts wherever they lead, without regard to politics or personalities.”

The Community Foundation administers the Mayor’s Trophy fund, an arrangement that frees the charitable fund from some tax filing requirements, notably IRA form 990, which discloses details about donations, income, and expenses.

Stewart, a Republican who served for 12 years as mayor before leaving office in November to campaign for governor, has suffered a succession of recent blows from an investigation of spending during her administration by her successor, current Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat.

Based on what he said were complaints about Stewart’s municipal spending, Sanchez commissioned an investigation by the private Crumbie Law Group of Hartford. Earlier in May, Sanchez released a report by the Crumbie Group that blasted Stewart for using a city-issued credit card for tens of thousands of dollars of apparently personal purchases.

Stewart suspended her campaign for governor when the first report was issued days before the Republican convention. Earlier this week, Sanchez criticized Stewart for billing the city for reimbursement of $31,000 she spent on tuition for a master’s degree program.

In its letter to the Community Foundation of New Britain, Tong’s office said it “has some additional questions” for the foundation “in connection with the Crumbie Law report on Erin Stewart’s use of the city of New Britain’s credit card.”