Erin Stewart, the former mayor of New Britain, Connecticut, has repeatedly missed deadlines to repay more than $240,000 in taxpayer funds she allegedly misused during her 12 years in office. Stewart, 39, suspended her Republican bid for governor in May after an investigation found she had used a city-issued credit card to benefit herself, her family and her political campaigns, prompting her successor's administration to pursue repayment and threaten further legal action.

An inquiry by the Crumbie Law Group, commissioned by current Mayor Bobby Sanchez, found that the "great majority" of $207,076 in card purchases were unrelated to city business. Alleged misuse included over $30,000 spent on Stewart's master's degree, roughly $22,000 on home deliveries such as clothes, makeup and baby supplies, and nearly $20,000 on membership fees and hospitality at a private social club. She is also accused of directing waived golf tournament fees and around $6,650 in city funds towards her charity. New Britain says Stewart now owes $241,558 in total, including attorneys' fees and tuition reimbursement, and has warned she faces further consequences if she misses the final deadline.