Mayor From Illinois Under Fire for Allegedly Misusing Finances and Partying in Vegas, Blocks Investigation
Tiffany Henyard, the mayor of Dolton, Illinois, is facing accusations of spending over $1 million in taxpayer funds for her extravagant lifestyle. This included a security detail similar to that of a US president. Recently, the Dolton Village Board agreed to initiate an investigation into these alleged misuse of funds, but Henyard used her veto power to cancel the proposal.
This action came after the six-member Dolton Village Board voted to approve a resolution which asked for support from the Cook County Sheriff, the state attorney general’s office, and the FBI for an investigation into Henyard. Henyard claimed that the board acted unconstitutionally and disregarded the law. She even stated, "I will be victorious when the dust clears."
In response to the resolution, trustees shared that Henyard's spending had pushed the town into a debt of millions, making it difficult to fund essential services such as road maintenance and tree trimming.
Reports from January mentioned Henyard allegedly spending taxpayer money on a Las Vegas trip, which involved a $3,741 first-class airfare and over $8,400 in hotel bills. She failed to provide an explanation to the board on the necessity of this trip. The board's resolution to conduct an inquiry into her financial activities was stopped due to Henyard's veto. However, the Chicago Tribune suggests that federal and state authorities are actively investigating Henyard.
No official charges have emerged at this point. If any wrongdoings are discovered, Henyard claims she will be found innocent. When asked to resign, Henyard said, “It will be all facts, receipts.”
Dolton Trustee Ed Steave indicated the necessity for Henyard to take responsibility for her actions, expressing, "The mayor can blame everybody for what’s going on, but she has to look at herself."
Dolton is located approximately 15 miles south of Chicago in Cook County, with a population of around 21,000. Over 90% of the population is Black, and the median household income is said to be $55,000. Over 20% of the community lives below the poverty line. Despite the financial struggles of her constituents, Henyard's annual salary is approximately $270,000, which includes her role as a Township Supervisor. Henyard has proposed a motion to reduce the mayor's pay to $25,000 per year if she's not re-elected, which critics argue is to deter potential challengers.
In Henyard's words, "Our village, our community staff, myself, we are under attack." These events have landed Dolton in the spotlight of national news outlets, but Henyard doesn't accept responsibility for the negative attention.
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