CHICAGO (CBS) — Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday agreed to research Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard amid claims that Henyard misused public funds.
Lightfoot launched the next assertion, which she additionally learn at a Dolton Village Board of Trustees assembly Monday night:
“I’m honored that the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees has positioned their confidence in me to conduct a radical and well timed unbiased investigation into the issues outlined within the decision relating to Mayor Tiffany Henyard and her administration. As somebody who has made good governance the cornerstone of my profession in public service, I acknowledge that sustaining the belief of these you serve and making selections of their greatest pursuits is important. The residents of Dolton deserve nothing lower than a authorities that’s absolutely accountable, responsive, clear, and efficient stewards of taxpayer {dollars}.
“As a lawyer, former federal prosecutor, and mayor, I carry experience in main investigations of this type and perceive the advanced challenges of governing. I’ll observe the info the place they lead, with out bias, and reserve feedback till the work is full. On the conclusion of this investigation, I’ll present an evaluation of the findings and proposals. I welcome and urge the total cooperation of Mayor Henyard, her employees, Village Trustees, distributors, and others who’ve data related to this inquiry.”
Lightfoot acquired a standing ovation from Dolton residents Monday night time as she accepted her appointment.
Henyard was noticeably absent from the assembly.
The previous Chicago mayor stated she is dedicated to getting all the way down to the info. The board pointed to her expertise as a former prosecutors and personal lawyer to get the job performed.
Lightfoot acquired a standing ovation from Dolton residents Monday night time as she accepted her appointment.
The village board retained Lightfoot at a price of $400 an hour to research Henyard on claims of misuse of village cash – which Henyard has repeatedly denied.
“We’ve got tried lawsuits. All it has performed is rack up extra lawyer’s charges,” stated Burton Odelson, legislative counsel to the Dolton Village Board. “Hiring Mayor Lightfoot to do a immediate investigation will lead the board to the place they should go as to the following step.”
“We really feel this selection will give us an unbiased course of,” added Dolton Village Trustee Jason Home.
Allegations in opposition to Henyard and her administration
The Dolton mayor has been accused of misusing public funds whereas the village is hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in debt – together with lavish private spending, reportedly on the taxpayers’ dime.
“And we’re now $7 million-plus in debt,” stated Dolton Village Trustee Kiana Belcher. “We’re bleeding proper now, and bleeding results in dying – and that is dying of a neighborhood.”
Lightfoot might be tasked with investigating these claims, and likewise a village worker’s claims that she was sexually assaulted by a Dolton village trustee on a visit to Las Vegas – after which retaliated in opposition to. The worker claimed after she informed the mayor concerning the lawsuit, she was finally fired.
A decision calling for hiring Lightfoot says that Henyard, her safety element, two board trustees, and different village staff traveled to Las Vegas in Could 2023 for what was presupposed to be a visit centered on “financial improvement,” and once they returned, “there was a complete failure to report something relative to potential financial improvement, or another occasions that came about in Las Vegas, to the Board of Trustees.”
The decision additionally states the board later realized of “severe sexual assault allegations” made by a former Dolton worker in opposition to a board trustee through the journey, and that Henyard and others in her administration “have gone to nice lengths to cover-up and conceal the alleged sexual misconduct and reporting of the sexual misconduct.”
On Monday night time, the board additionally overrode Mayor Henyard’s veto from a March assembly of the decision to research her spending.
Lightfoot has been appointed as an “Extra Legislative Counsel to completely examine” the Las Vegas journey, in addition to allegations that Henyard has misspent federal COVID-19 aid funds, employed contractors with out looking for correct bids, overpaid distributors with out approval from the board, and accepted massive marketing campaign contributions from distributors chosen by the mayor.
Dolton residents voted to recall Henyard in June 2022, however the mayor took her battle to courtroom, and gained when the Illinois Appellate Court docket later dominated that the votes to recall Henyard weren’t legitimate.
In February, Dolton village trustees referred to as for an out of doors investigation into allegations that Henyard had been misusing public funds. This accusation got here on the identical time the Illinois Legal professional Normal’s Workplace informed Henyard’s charity a number of instances in latest months to cease improperly soliciting donations as a result of it had not registered with the state as required by legislation.
Some Dolton residents questioned the probably hefty price ticket that may include Lightfoot’s appointment.
The board stated it can reevaluate Lightfoot’s work, and test in with residents, on the $30,000 mark.
Lightfoot is predicted to start out her investigation as quickly as Tuesday.
