Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard exercised her veto power in a dramatic fashion on Monday, shutting down a proposal for former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to investigate her and Village finances. The decision came amid outcry from residents and a turbulent Village Board meeting that saw several residents locked out due to space constraints. The meeting, which didn't start until half an hour past the scheduled time, was accompanied by protestors beating on drums and pots and pans, chanting for Henyard's removal, reported the Chicago Tribune.
"How dare you think you can come into someone’s town and do work," Henyard said, accusing trustees who voted to hire Lightfoot of overstepping their authority, as the Chicago Tribune noted. This controversy follows the wake of federal investigators serving subpoenas at Village Hall, demanding records tied to Henyard and her aide, Keith Freeman, who is currently under indictment for bankruptcy fraud.
The charged atmosphere extended to public opinion as well, with one resident proclaiming “We want better in our community,” and emphasizing the community's desire to see a regime change, said the Chicago Tribune. An earlier subpoena heavily focused on Freeman, seeking records from various businesses that he is associated with, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Amidst the political tussle, Fenia Dukes, former assistant to Henyard, has leveled an accusation of sexual assault against community activist Andrew Holmes, also a Dolton trustee and ally of Henyard. Dukes claims the incident occurred during a trip financed by taxpayers to Las Vegas. Holmes, who has denied the allegations, was absent from the meeting and has not faced any charges, as per a report by WGN-TV. Despite the heated disagreement, critics continue to accuse Mayor Henyard of misappropriating taxpayer funds, while her cancer charity also undergoes scrupulous examination by the FBI.
The former Chicago Mayor Lightfoot's role as an investigator has been nullified by Henyard's veto, yet the Village Board trustees may seek to override this decision at a subsequent meeting scheduled for May 20, according to WGN-TV. The subpoenas surrounding the investigation encompass a wide net, including Henyard, Freeman, and a dozen other individuals, focusing on expense and employment records. The accusations extend as far as claims against Henyard for stifling permits and business licenses to those in opposition to her.
