In the midst of a storm of controversy, Tiffany Henyard, the Democratic mayor of Dolton, Illinois, has hinted at her intention to arrest her political adversaries.
These opponents have been vocal in their criticism of her extravagant expenditure, funded by taxpayers. Henyard, who is also grappling with an eviction notice from her rented residence, has been thrust into the national spotlight due to allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Her spending habits were previously scrutinized by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
"I will be seeking arrests for individuals involved," Henyard declared in a 90-minute video she uploaded on Facebook on Tuesday. "I will be pressing charges. Its a lot. And thats just me telling you a little bit because all this pointing the finger at Tiffany or lying on me Im over it. Now its time for me to speak, as I say, truth speaks."
As reported by Fox News, Henyard, who self-identifies as the "super mayor" in her video, did not specify the offenses her adversaries may have committed. She turned to social media after a meeting of the Thornton Township, which she also presides over as Supervisor, was called off due to a lack of quorum. Trustees had expressed concerns about the safety of the meeting venue, leading to the cancellation of the gathering for the second consecutive time, as per the Chicago Tribune.
The mayor also took the opportunity to criticize the media's portrayal of her tenure, labeling it as "fake news," and took aim at officials who disagreed with her. "Why is it with me and my life yall dont hear my side? Yall judge off the one side of the narrative thats out in the world, but never hear from me I was always told if you want the tea get it from me, you have to get it from the horses mouth."
Despite promising evidence of her opponents' wrongdoings in the past, Henyard has yet to deliver, according to WGNTV. She has suggested that the allegations against her are merely a diversionary tactic. "Why do we have all this attention on Tiffany Henyard? What the hell [are] they doing that they dont want us to know about, while they [are] distracting us over here," she questioned.
Meanwhile, Henyard's landlord has informed Fox 32 Chicago that the mayor and her boyfriend, Kamal Woods, have not paid their rent since August and are facing eviction. The couple reportedly earns over $300,000 from taxpayers, as per public payrolls cited by Fox 32 Chicago. Their landlord, Genetta Hull, claims she was compelled to increase the rent due to a hike in property taxes, which the couple refused to pay. Hull alleges that Henyard and Woods have changed the locks and garage door code, preventing her from entering the property. She has filed an eviction lawsuit against the pair, which has yet to be served.
Despite the ongoing controversies, Henyard recently announced her intention to run for a second term as mayor of Dolton on Facebook. She was first elected mayor in 2021 after serving two terms as a trustee on the village's board, winning the election with over 80% of the vote. However, her tenure has been marred by controversy, leading to her being dubbed "the worst mayor in America" by residents.
Henyard's announcement of her re-election bid comes amidst a lawsuit against several village trustees, the Dolton Park District, the village clerk, and the village administrator. The lawsuit stems from a contentious village board meeting, which Henyard alleges violated procedures.
A preliminary report from Lightfoots investigation into Doltons financial situation revealed a drastic drop in the village's general fund balance from $5.61 million in 2022 to a deficit of $3.65 million by May 2024. The report also highlighted Henyard's use of the village credit card for purchases at various retailers, including a staggering $33,000 spent on Amazon in a single day in January 2023.
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