Lori Lightfoot, the former mayor of Chicago, has been hired to investigate Dolton (Ill.) Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who faces allegations that she misused public funds.
Lightfoot accepted the position Monday at a Dolton Village board of trustees meeting, where she said she was honored to be tapped to conduct a “thorough and timely independent investigation” into Henyard and her administration.
“As a lawyer, former federal prosecutor, and mayor, I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing,” she said in a statement reported by CBS Chicago. “I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete. At the conclusion of this investigation, I will provide an assessment of the findings and recommendations.”
Henyard, who was absent from the meeting, has denied allegations that she has misused public money for personal spending. Dolton is more than $7 million in debt, Dolton village trustee Kiana Belcher told CBS Chicago.
Lightfoot’s hiring stemmed from the claim that Henyard, her security, two board of trustees and other employees traveled to Las Vegas in May 2023 for a trip centered on “economic development” but did not report any work related to that goal or any other information about what took place during the trip upon their return, the outlet reported.
Lightfoot will also be investigating a former Dolton employee’s allegation that she was sexually assaulted by a village trustee and that she was fired by Henyard after reporting the incident.
Henyard has also been accused of misspending federal COVID-19 relief funds, incorrect hiring for contractors and accepting large campaign contributions.
The Dolton mayor was voted to be recalled in June 2022, but the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the votes to recall her were invalid, CBS Chicago reported.
Lightfoot said she hopes Henyard and her staff will cooperate with the investigation, which could begin as early as Tuesday.
Henyard has the power to veto Lightfoot’s appointment. The former Chicago mayor said during the meeting that she hopes Henyard will “voluntarily cooperate,” but if she does not, “we are prepared to do what is necessary to get the facts,” ABC 7 Chicago reported.
The Hill has reached out to Henyard for comment.