By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-28 19:01:55 | Updated at 2025-01-31 02:30:37
2 days ago
An independent investigation detailed how Tiffany Henyard allegedly mismanaged millions of dollars worth of taxpayer funds during her controversial tenure as the mayor of Dolton, Illinois.
On Monday, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot finally revealed the findings of her independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings of Henyard, who also serves as the supervisor of nearby Thornton Township.
Lightfoot narrated her findings during a town meeting that was packed with aggrieved residents, though there was no sign of the so-called 'Super Mayor', FOX32 reported.
'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 at the meeting.
Lightfoot's 73-page report explained that there was a whopping $779,638 charged to town credit cards in 2023, with little to no tracking of the actual expenses.
More than $50,000 spent on artificial ice tiles, which could have been used to build the town ice skating rink Henyard promoted on Instagram in February 2023.
At least six government credit cards were also used to pay for glamorous getaways Henyard took to Las Vegas in May 2022 and May 2023, according to the report.
'Financial records from the village and Thornton Township reflect that a number of people traveled to Las Vegas on both of these trips,' Lightfoot said. 'And the expense of their travel, their lodging, their meals and entertainment were paid for on village and township credit cards.'
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been accused of mismanaging the town's money since 2021, when she became mayor
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was hired by members of the Dolton Board of Trustees in April 2024 to conduct an investigation into the town's finances. Lightfoot presented her lengthy report to a crowd of angry Dolton residents on Monday
'There's no evidence that business development opportunities came to the village as a result of either of these two trips,' she concluded, prompting a groan from the audience.
From 2021 through June 2024, credit cards were used for over $171,000 in travel-related expenses, including airfare, baggage fees, hotels, meals and rental cars.
The report also revealed that over $50,000 was spent at local restaurants. Purchases were also made at Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Wayfair, Walgreens, Apple and Walmart.
An additional $218,000 was spent on Amazon over the four-year-span Henyard has been in charge.
There's also evidence that Henyard charged the town more than $7000 for her hair and makeup team, listing it as an 'assistant' cost.
'Many of the credit card expenditures have no accompanying receipt, and the statements alone provide limited information about the purchases,' according to the report.
As a result of this spending frenzy, allegedly done by Henyard, the Dolton Board of Trustees banned her from using town credit cards in August 2024.
The report also alleged that Dolton had a budget surplus of $5.61 million in April 2022 that quickly shrank to a $3.65 million deficit by May 2024.
The bombshell report comes as Henyard looks to recapture the Democratic party nomination for Dolton mayor in February, where she will face off against Trustee Jason House
Henyard is pictured outside the building where Thornton Township held their Democratic caucus for their supervisor, a role she's held since 2022. Henyard would go on to lose the caucus and allege 'voter fraud'
Lightfoot said Dolton received some $3 million in payments from the American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 stimulus bill signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2021.
According to Lightfoot, hundreds of thousands of the original $3 million in ARPA funds went missing without receipts.
Henyard also failed to appoint an official to oversee the massive sum of money, a requirement put in place by the Treasury Department, Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot was hired in April 2024 to conduct the forensic accounting investigation by Dolton town trustees who want to see Henyard booted out of the job she's held since 2021.
Lightfoot was asked multiple times by residents if Henyard will face criminal charges or if she'll be held accountable, but she failed to provide a solid answer.
The bombshell report comes as Henyard looks to recapture the Democratic party nomination for Dolton mayor in February, where she will face off against Trustee Jason House.
During a rowdy caucus meeting in December, Henyard lost the Democratic primary to lead the Thornton Township, a position she's held since 2022.
In an interview with ABC 7, Henyard later said her loss was caused by 'voter suppression.'
She insisted she'll be on the ballot come April for the township supervisor position.
'One hundred percent confident that I will be,' she said. 'They did a lot of illegal actions, which my lawyer is drawing up the lawsuit currently.'
