Tiffany Henyard investigation: Ex-Chicago mayor releases findings
Ex-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has released the findings of her investigation into 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.
Dolton residents react to background info about Tiffany Henyard at meeting
Dolton residents had strong reactions to some of the background information Lightfoot gave at a special meeting Monday night.
Lightfoot says Henyard told employee to shade the truth
Lori Lightfoot discusses an instance where Tiffany Henyard allegedly told an employee to “shade the truth.”
“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.”
Tiffany Henyard investigation: Breakdown of Dolton’s current finances
Lori Lightfoot presents her findings regarding an investigation into Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
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.
‘Tiffany need to be locked up’: Dolton residents react after Lightfoot report reveals financial crisis
To a dumbfounded crowd Thursday night, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot presented her investigative report revealing the spending habits of Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard at the expense of taxpayers.
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
Conclusion
The findings of the investigation into Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s financial management have raised serious concerns about her administration’s handling of village funds. The report highlights a pattern of gross financial mismanagement, including the misuse of taxpayer dollars, failure to comply with reporting requirements, and failure to pay vendors. The investigation has also uncovered instances of retaliation and attempts to hide the true financial condition of the village from the public.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of the investigation?
A: The investigation was launched to examine allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of taxpayer dollars by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Q: What were the findings of the investigation?
A: The investigation found that Henyard’s administration had engaged in a pattern of gross financial mismanagement, including the misuse of taxpayer dollars, failure to comply with reporting requirements, and failure to pay vendors.
Q: What are the implications of the findings?
A: The findings suggest that Henyard’s administration has put the village’s financial stability at risk and may have violated state and federal laws.
Q: What is the next step?
A: The village trustees will review the findings and determine the appropriate course of action.
