Former Chicago Suburb Mayor Faces Legal Troubles
The former Democratic “super mayor” of a Chicago suburb is encountering yet another legal challenge after failing to produce public records from her time in office. This issue surfaced just hours after a court session where the matter was addressed earlier this month.
During a hearing on Friday, Tiffany Enyard’s attorney, Beau Bridley, appealed for the fifth time, attempting to fulfill a court order requiring the submission of public records from Enyard’s tenure.
Bridley mentioned that there is an ongoing campaign to tarnish Enyard’s reputation, which he believes started while she was still serving. This sentiment was part of a statement shared with Fox News Digital.
Interestingly, Bridley acknowledged that Enyard did not have the documents being requested. An Illinois judge has granted her legal team permission to file an affidavit instead.
“The mayor does not possess the documents the plaintiff is seeking,” he stated. “This matter can be settled with a straightforward affidavit. There was really not much at all in the hearing.”
This hearing follows a lawsuit initiated by the Edgar County Watch Office. The organization is pursuing action against Henyard and the village of Dalton for failing to provide financial documentation requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
Edward “Coach” Winehouse, a lawyer for the Edgar County Watchdog, expressed doubt that Enyard would take responsibility for the missing documents, indicating that losing the election might be used as a reason for not maintaining them.
“Bringing up the Fifth Amendment regarding criminal investigations complicates things further. The watchdog will keep searching for these documents, even if it seems like the documents were inadvertently discarded,” he noted in a statement.
Enyard, who was recently unseated in her re-election bid by Jason House, was trying to secure another position as Thornton Township supervisor but was defeated by Illinois Sen. Napoleon Harris.
Her situation gained national attention in April 2024 when officials at Dalton Village Hall received subpoenas from the FBI as part of a corruption investigation. However, it’s worth mentioning that Enyard hasn’t faced criminal charges.
In response to the allegations swirling around the Enyard administration, the village trustees opted to hire Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to conduct an inquiry into the former mayor’s financial dealings. This decision led to a heated exchange between supporters and opponents during the initial vote, causing disruptions at the meeting.
Lightfoot’s investigation allegedly revealed a significant financial decline, with village funds dropping from $5.6 million to a deficit of $3.6 million.
On the very day Enyard lost the primary, Dalton reportedly faced a federal summons.
Looking ahead, Enyard is expected back in court on June 11th, where the judge will determine if they will continue to address this issue while imposing a daily fine of $1,000.
