Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, now a consultant with Charles River Associates, conducted an investigation into the administration of Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard and unveiled her findings in a recent meeting. The report alleges a "systematic effort" to conceal the town's financial status, with missing funds and a lack of spending oversight.

Lightfoot's investigation points to a concerted effort by Henyard and her administration, starting as early as late 2021, to obscure Dolton's financial reality from both trustees and the public. A key issue highlighted is the mismanagement of approximately $3 million in American Rescue Plan funds received by the village. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are unaccounted for, with no receipts to document their expenditure. Furthermore, Henyard failed to appoint a designated official to track the spending of these funds, a requirement mandated by the Treasury Department.

The report also reveals a dramatic increase in the city's credit card spending, reaching $779,638 in 2023, again with minimal tracking and documentation. Many expenditures lack accompanying receipts, providing limited insight into the nature of the purchases. Significant expenses include trips to Las Vegas in both 2022 and 2023, with no apparent resulting business development opportunities for the village.

These financial mismanagement accusations come on the heels of Henyard being found in contempt of court for delaying the issuance of liquor licenses for a local business. Despite promises to sign the licenses, which were already approved by the village board, Henyard failed to meet deadlines, leading to court appearances and ultimately a finding of indirect criminal contempt.