Lightfoot releases findings into probe of Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled the findings of her months-long investigation into Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard on Monday.

Community members packed the meeting hall, which was standing room only, anxiously awaiting the results of Lightfoot’s investigation.

There, Lightfoot walked residents through a 73-page presentation, which showed that for years, there's been blatant disregard for the Village of Dolton’s Purchasing Policy.

"At least as early as late 2021, there was a concerted, systematic effort on behalf of Mayor Henyard and others in her administration to hide the true financial condition of the Village of Dolton from the trustees and from members of the public," Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot found that village trustees were intentionally kept in the dark when it came to spending.

"By March 2022, the trustees were effectively cut off from receiving regular financial reports," Lightfoot said.

What they're saying:

Lightfoot released the following statement about her final summary of findings and recommendations:

"Today, we released the final summary of findings and recommendations on the investigation into Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard's financial management of the Village of Dolton’s revenues and expenses, as requested by the Village Trustees. The report details consistent mismanagement of Village finances through excessive spending on non-essential goods and services, systematic attempts by Mayor Henyard and others at her direction to hide the true financial condition of the Village from the Board of Trustees and the public, as well as other efforts to thwart efforts aimed at transparency as mandated under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). The report establishes the absence of competent governance and continued violations of governance norms during Mayor Henyard’s tenure. The costs to taxpayers have been significant, starting with a substantial budget deficit, higher costs for basic necessities like liability insurance, and many lawsuits against the Village directly related to allegations of misconduct by Henyard and others.

"Throughout our independent inquiry, we consistently encountered a mayor and administration that evaded transparency—skirting FOIA laws, failing to provide requested documents, and otherwise refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The report provides a detailed accounting of gross financial mismanagement, both at the Village level and at Thornton Township, during her tenure as Supervisor, including unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, failure to comply with reporting requirements, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and failure to pay vendors. We also uncovered Village liability insurers refused to provide coverage to Mayor Henyard, which potentially exposes the village to significant legal and financial risks.

"The details in this report are significant, and we are confident the majority of Trustees will continue to take the necessary steps to safeguard the Village. We thank them, along with the residents of Dolton, for placing their confidence in our team to conduct this investigation, provide truthful insight into the Village's financial standing, and offer recommendations to support their efforts toward improved governance."

Mayor Tiffany Henyard did not attend Monday’s meeting. Her attorney, Beau Brindley, released the following statement to FOX 32 Chicago on Monday night:

"Lori Lightfoot is a failed mayor whose fiscal irresponsibility was overwhelming.

"The idea that any credibility could be given to her ‘findings’ about another mayor’s financial decisions is preposterous.

"This is an effort by a failed political figure desperately seeking the limelight to which she is no longer entitled."

Probe into Tiffany Henyard

The backstory:

Lightfoot was appointed by the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees to investigate Henyard in April of 2024. She was tasked with launching a probe into Henyard's alleged mishandling of village funds, among other complaints.

Lightfoot was asked to investigate a Village of Dolton work trip to Las Vegas last year. A former employee accused Henyard of retaliation after she claimed she was sexually assaulted by a village trustee during that trip and was then fired after speaking up.

Henyard initially vetoed calls for an investigation into herself, but she was overturned by trustees.

Lightfoot presented initial findings from her investigation into the village's "dire" financial situation last August.

By the numbers:

The bombshell report delved into Henyard's spending habits and her alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars, highlighting just how much trouble the village is in financially.

Lightfoot said that in April 2022, Dolton's general fund balance was $5.61 million. By May 2024, the balance had fallen to a deficit of $3.65 million.

Over the course of nine months, Lightfoot delved into village credit card transactions. In 2023, charges amounted to more than $779,000.

On Amazon, more than $50,000 was spent on ice skates and artificial ice tiles for a winter rink; purchases that Lightfoot says were not made in compliance with the Purchasing Policy.

In examining the village's six credit cards that Lightfoot’s team was aware of, receipts for purchases were "rarely provided."

Lightfoot revealed that village credit cards were used to make purchases at Amazon, Target, Walgreens, Wayfair, and other retailers.

Lightfoot also estimates that the amount owed to vendors remains in excess of $5 million.

Additionally, Lightfoot revealed that one concession that the village had to make "in order to get coverage for the 2024-2025 period was the cancellation of coverage for Mayor Henyard."

The findings have been released just one month before Henyard will seek re-election in the Democratic Primary for mayor.

Meanwhile, there's already been progress on the part of the village trustees who hired Lightfoot. The Village of Dolton’s general fund deficit has decreased to $2.4 million, as of October 2024.

Chaos in Dolton, Thorton Township

Dig deeper:

Henyard has stirred up controversy in both Dolton and Thornton Township, where she was a supervisor, and is now facing an FBI investigation.

In May 2024, Henyard was named in a subpoena served at Dolton Village Hall, which asked for all payments, expense reimbursements, per diems and credit card expenditures for her, beginning just before her election in 2021.

Investigators also requested the same information from her top assistant, Keith Freeman, and a pair of businesses controlled by Freeman as well as several trustees and village employees who had traveled with Henyard.

The subpoena also showed that the FBI was looking into complaints by Dolton business owners whose licenses have been held up by the village, asking for licensing information for 10 bars and restaurants, including two that were raided and closed by Dolton police in February – Rinky's Bar and Pablo's Cafe and Bar.

RELATED: Thornton Township subpoenas reveal Tiffany Henyard is target of criminal investigation

The feds are reportedly focusing on all the expensive travel by Henyard and her crew out of state, including first class plane tickets, asking for travel records for all trips, but specifying Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon.

The FBI also asked for shift records for a number of officers assigned to her detail, including officer Terry Young, who last May reported working 303 hours during a two-week period.

The subpoena asked for information related to Henyard's charitable foundation, which used employees and cars from Dolton as part of a march to Springfield in 2022.

A federal grand jury has been conducting a criminal investigation into Henyard since last November.

In all, the FBI served a total of five subpoenas over a two-week period on Dolton and Thornton Township.

READ MORE HERE: Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard named in latest FBI subpoena, records requested

The Source: The information in this story came from a Lori Lightfoot press conference and our previous reporting on Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard.

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