Embattled Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard was questioned by residents at a contentious board meeting, as she faces allegations of financial misdeeds and other misconduct.
In a raucous meeting that ended with ejections and accusations, Dolton residents grilled Mayor Tiffany Henyard on Monday night, demanding answers about government spending and other concerns.
Henyard, dubbed the "worst mayor in America" by critics, has been accused of financial improprieties, weaponizing police raids, and even an alleged sexual assault by one of her allies. Her cancer charity is also under investigation.
Mayor Henyard Faces Scrutiny as Dolton Residents Demand Answers
Residents expressed outrage at the way the village was being run, with accusations of excessive spending flying around. "This village deserves so much more than it's getting," one woman заявила. "From an outsider looking in, you're being hoodwinked, bamboozled, and led astray."
The meeting was marked by interruptions, shouting, and a general sense of disorganization. Police and Sheriff's deputies were on hand, with attendees required to pass through metal detectors for entry.
Mayor Henyard Faces Scrutiny as Dolton Residents Demand Answers
Henyard, who is also under investigation by the FBI for corruption, appeared confrontational with the people she represents. "People who say things about me, I want you to prove it," she stated.
One of the main concerns raised by residents was the alleged misuse of government credit cards. A "credit card spending freeze" was approved during the meeting, with only the director of administrative services authorized to use the card for "board-approved purchases" capped at $5,000.
Mayor Henyard Faces Scrutiny as Dolton Residents Demand Answers
WGN-TV reported that thousands of dollars had been spent on Amazon, PayPal, Target, Walgreens, and Jewel-Osco. "There's thousands and thousands of dollars for Amazon purchases... for PayPal, for Target, for Walgreens, for Jewel-[Osco] in the hundreds and thousands of dollars," said Michael McGrath, a lawyer representing Dolton's trustees.
In an attempt to cut spending, the trustees agreed to fire the acting police chief and several other village employees. However, these individuals reportedly showed up to work the following day.
Mayor Henyard Faces Scrutiny as Dolton Residents Demand Answers
Adding to the controversy, two men sitting next to Henyard during the meeting were identified as Chicago federal criminal defense attorneys. FOX 32 Chicago reported that they were not being paid by the village but were present for the board's closed executive session.
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was hired by Dolton in April as a "special investigator" to examine Henyard's conduct. The results of that investigation are expected to be released on Thursday and are said to reveal that the village is deeply in debt and may not be able to meet payroll in the near future.
"Watching as this village is being run into the ground by this woman is p---ing me off," said one longtime resident.
Henyard's tenure has been marked by turmoil and controversy. She has also faced a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and a recent incident where a man was shot and killed by police during a raid.
