Suburban Chicago Mayor, Probed by FBI for Overspending Millions, Pays Another $85,000 for a Barely-Attended Party

A Chicago suburban mayor, already under probe for spending nearly $8 million over two years, is being chided by taxpayers again for paying $85,000 for a party that included tens of thousands of dollars to lesser-known musicians for a half-hour’s work.The self-proclaimed “super mayor” of Dolton, Tiffany Henyard, kept up her excessive spending habits over the summer. Ms. Henyard allegedly used municipal funds last month to fly in musicians to a local-area festival, “Taste of Thornton Township,” which had a sparse attendance, according to a report from WGN 9. The event occurred the same month that a special investigation into her spending found that the village’s funds were depleted under Ms. Henyard’s leadership.The former Chicago mayor, Lori Lightfoot, who was hired by the village as a special investigator, disclosed that under Ms. Henyard’s leadership, Dolton’s funds had dropped to a deficit of $3.65 million from a balance of more than $5 million in April 2022. “As of May 30, of this year, the village’s general fund was in a net deficit position,” Ms. Lightfoot said.The investigation uncovered Ms. Henyard’s penchant for spending public funds using the village’s credit cards to make purchases at retailers like Target, Walgreens, and Wayfair.One statement showed that she spent $33,000 on Amazon.com in one day in January of last year. She’s also been accused of spending tax dollars on motorcades and personal security.The FBI has also been investigating Ms. Henyard for the misuse of public funds along with a litany of other allegations, including reports of wrongful termination of village employees who have spoken out against her, shutting down local businesses as a means of political retaliation, and defying the will of her constituents by staying in office after they voted for a recall in 2022.Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act detail the expenses of the barely-attended event. R&B singer Keke Wyatt was paid $30,000 for a 30-minute performance, and rap artist J. Holiday was paid $20,000 for his half-hour set. The remainder of the money was spent on inflatable bounce houses, comedians, a sound system, and other equipment for staffers.“I was flabbergasted,” Lansing resident Jennifer Robertz told a local news organization. “I was pissed off. That’s my money. That’s the people’s money.”

Suburban Chicago Mayor, Probed by FBI for Overspending Millions, Pays Another $85,000 for a Barely-Attended Party

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