Curious Historian

By Mike Fishmore | April 22, 2024

Thornton Township Supervisor

The FBI issued subpoenas in the Chicago suburb where Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been embroiled in controversy. 
 

Henyard, who holds the title of "supermayor" in Dolton and serves as the Thornton Township Supervisor, has been under scrutiny for various allegations of corruption. 
 

Worst mayor in America

Critics have labeled her as the "worst mayor in America" due to accusations such as misuse of police raids and extravagant spending of taxpayer funds in Las Vegas. 
 

Recent criticism

The mayor has also faced recent criticism for an alleged sexual assault involving one of her associates during the Las Vegas trip. FBI agents visited Dolton and delivered two federal subpoenas as part of the ongoing investigation.
 

Disciplinary accounts

The initial subpoena requested employment documentation, personnel records, and disciplinary accounts for 25 individuals employed in Dolton, including three police officers and Keith Freeman, the village administrator and a key advisor to Mayor Henyard. 
 

Bankruptcy fraud

Freeman was recently accused of bankruptcy fraud. The second subpoena targeted Freeman directly, seeking information on any businesses linked to him and potential connections to the village.
 

Taking action

"The House of Cards are collapsing," remarked Burt Odelson, the Legislative Counsel for the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees. "I think the government is taking action."
 

Additional details

Additional details regarding the subpoenas were not disclosed by the FBI, and Mayor Henyard was not personally served with any documents.
 

Launched an investigation

Back in February, reports surfaced indicating that the FBI had launched an investigation into the mayor. Six individuals, including business owners, a former village employee, and potentially public officials, had reportedly provided information to the agency regarding the mayor's alleged wrongdoing.
 

Federal authorities

Dolton trustee Tammie Brown expressed her excitement upon learning that federal authorities are conducting an investigation in the area. "Months and months and months, we have been begging for someone to come out here and actually investigate as to what's actually going on out here," Brown said.  
 

Special Investigator

The Village of Dolton made the decision to appoint former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a "Special Investigator" to examine Mayor Henyard's behavior. This move followed Henyard's veto of the board's proposal to initiate a federal inquiry into her suspected mishandling of funds.
 

Receiving compensation

Lightfoot is receiving compensation at a rate of $400 per hour to collect details regarding Mayor Henyard's reported expenditures, financial mismanagement, and potential violations of state and federal laws.
 

Dolton residents

In April, Mayor Henyard faced criticism from Dolton residents, but now she also received backlash from residents of Thornton Township.
 

Chaotic situation

In response to the accusations, she stated, "There was a desire to maintain a chaotic situation and avoid addressing the actual facts of what is happening in our township."
 

Invoking racial politics

Henyard has previously resorted to invoking racial politics in response to her scandals, as evidenced by her statement during a prior meeting. "Y’all got false narratives out there, and y’all should be ashamed of y’all selves. Y’all Black. Y’all are Black! And y’all sitting up here beating and attacking on a Black woman that’s in power. Y’all should be ashamed of y’all selves."
 

Lavish lifestyle

According to Fox News, Henyard has been leading a lavish lifestyle with a total income close to $300,000, surpassing that of the state's governor. This extravagant spending includes regular visits to beauty vendors, a stark contrast to the town's 23,000 residents whose median income is $24,000.
 

God chose me

The mayor who insists "God chose me" and met with President Biden in January, has been said to engage in such wild antics it is like a "real life Parks and Rec situation." The numerous accusations of wrongdoing against her may finally be starting to have consequences.
 

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