Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot stunned residents of Dolton, Illinois, when she released the preliminary findings of an investigation into allegations of misappropriation of funds by Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Mayor Lightfoot revealed the extent of Henyard’s alleged misappropriation to residents on Thursday night. Lightfoot said that as of April 2022, the City of Dolton’s general fund balance was $5.61 million.
By May 2024, the balance had been reduced to a deficit of $3.65 million.
“As of May 30 of this year, the village’s general fund was in a net deficit,” Lightfoot said.
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Mayor Tiffany Henyard appeared at odds with the Dolton residents she elected to represent at a contentious Aug. 5, 2024, board meeting. (FOX 32 Chicago)
Lightfoot also alleged that Henyard used the village’s credit card to Buy on AmazonTarget, Walgreens, Wayfair, and other retailers.
The surprising statement said the mayor in question had spent $33,000 on Amazon on January 5, 2023.
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“Someone is using their credit card, they’re using their tax dollars to charge you this amount,” Lightfoot told residents.
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks to the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council during an election eve rally on February 28, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images)
Lightfoot was hired in April by the village of Dalton as a “special investigator” to look into the Henyard case, and said the preliminary investigation also found that officers grossly misused taxpayer funds.
The investigation revealed that the two police officers had been receiving overtime pay in excess of their annual salaries.
One officer’s salary was $87,295 for fiscal year 2024 but received $114,800 in overtime pay. A second officer’s salary was $73,515 but received $102,077 in overtime pay for fiscal year 2024.
Dalton, Illinois residents speak out about Mayor Henyard’s alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. (FOX32)
The report has put pressure on the city, whose population is just over 20,000 as of July 2023 estimates. U.S. Census Bureau.
“I’m shocked that this woman came to our town and spent all of our tax dollars,” one resident told FOX 32. “We have seniors who can’t even afford basic necessities. I’ve always suspected that.”
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“Tiffany should be locked up,” said another. “She should be made an example and taught that this job comes with a cash register and that you can’t just go ahead and spend our money however you like.”
Tiffany Henyard, a politician who has been embroiled in a number of controversies, held another contentious meeting with constituents this week. (FOX32)
The findings come at a tumultuous time for Mayor Henyard, who critics have called “America’s worst mayor.”
The FBI continues to investigate the allegations of financial misconduct.
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She has also come under fire for an alleged sexual assault by one of her associates during a trip to Las Vegas, with the alleged victim claiming she was fired after coming forward.
Henyard’s cancer charities have also come under scrutiny.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the City of Dalton for comment.
