April 7th 2024.
Former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot has been approached with a request to take charge of an investigation into the actions of Mayor Tiffany Henyard of the Village of Dolton. The allegations against Henyard include cronyism, sexual misconduct, and corruption, and it is believed that a thorough investigation is necessary to uncover the truth.
Dolton, a small village in Cook County, Illinois, situated approximately 22 miles from Downtown Chicago, has a population of 21,426 as per the 2020 census. According to a report by WGN 9, the trustees are expected to vote on a resolution on April 8 that will officially authorize the investigation and also confirm Lightfoot's contract with Dolton. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, has also served as the president of both the Chicago Police Board and Chicago Police Accountability Task Force.
The allegations against Henyard revolve around financial transactions and ties between Dolton and Thornton Township, of which Henyard is the supervisor. In addition, she is also accused of retaliating against an aide and a police officer who reported an alleged incident of sexual misconduct by a village trustee during a trip to Las Vegas in 2023. While the trustee has denied the allegations, an anonymous complaint has been filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which suggests the possibility of sexual assault.
The police officer involved in the incident also submitted a complaint stating that he was concerned a crime may have occurred as the employee in question may not have had the ability to consent. Upon his request, the trustee switched to a video call where the officer witnessed the trustee panning the camera towards a partially undressed woman and focusing on various private areas of her body. This disturbing revelation has only added to the seriousness of the allegations against Henyard.
In response to these claims, Henyard's office has released a statement dismissing them as an attempt to extort money from taxpayers. They have expressed confidence in defending these allegations and taking necessary steps to protect the village. However, according to Burt Odelson, the legislative counsel for Dolton's Board of Trustees, there are currently almost 40 lawsuits against Henyard, and he believes that she is causing financial harm to the village.
Odelson told Fox 32, "She's bankrupting the town. The town doesn't have any money and it's not going to have any money for a long time based on these suits." The situation is further complicated by two former employees who have filed lawsuits against Henyard. Sandra Tracy, a former Human Resources Manager for Thornton Township, claims that she was targeted for refusing to gather damaging information on other township employees and for taking leave under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Similarly, Samysha Williams, the former director of Dolton's Building Permits and Licenses Department, alleges that she was fired for not withholding permits from businesses that did not donate to Henyard's campaign. Williams also told Fox 32 that she did not deny any FOIA requests despite Henyard's insistence to do so. Matthew R. Custardo, the lawyer representing the former employees, has released a statement stating, "We believe that the Village and Township's actions, under Mayor Henyard's direction, were unjust, unfair, and unlawful. Our clients were devoted public servants and they deserved better. Instead, they were bullied, intimidated, and kicked to the curb. But they're fighting back."
The situation in Dolton has only intensified with these legal battles, and it remains to be seen how the investigation led by Lightfoot will unfold. With multiple allegations of misconduct and corruption, the truth needs to be uncovered to ensure justice prevails for the people of Dolton and its employees.
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