Self-proclaimed Democratic 'super mayor' ordered to court as scandal-plagued tenure unravels
The self-described Chicago suburb "super mayor" is facing mounting legal woes after being ousted in a landslide election following a scandal-plagued time in office.
Former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, a Democrat, has been ordered to appear for a contempt hearing after she did not turn over public records from her time in office, according to WGN 9.
The Edgar County Watchdogs Inc. sued the Village of Dolton and the former mayor for failing to produce financial records after the administration allegedly disregarded Freedom of Information Act requests earlier this year.
'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard Skips Dolton Meetings As Controversial Tenure Nears Quiet End
"The former mayor is about to find out if losing an election is enough to escape contempt of court," Edward "Coach" Weinhaus, attorney for Edgar County Watchdogs, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Henyard was previously held in contempt of court after she failed to turn over records from her time in office, directly dismissing state transparency laws for elected officials, WGN 9 reported.
Read On The Fox News App
"The massive public exposure given to the defendant that has brought Illinois corruption into the national public spotlight needs to be addressed immediately to save further harm to the state's reputation," the complaint reportedly read.
Feds Subpoena Dolton, Illinois Records Tied To Ousted 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard's Boyfriend
In a hearing last week, Henyard reportedly told the judge she was the "face" of the village but was not tasked with recordkeeping, according to WGN 9.
Henyard and the attorneys representing the Village of Dolton did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Last month, Jason House was sworn in as the newly elected mayor of Dolton, ending Henyard's tumultuous time in office. Henyard was also defeated by Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris in her bid for re-election as Thornton Township supervisor.
Illinois 'Super Mayor' Conducted 'Systematic' Cover-up Of Excessive Spending, Lightfoot Investigation Finds
Henyard made national headlines in April 2024 after the FBI served subpoenas at Dolton Village Hall following corruption allegations against local officials, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
While Henyard was not charged, village trustees voted to hire former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead an investigation into her administration, with the town meeting descending into chaos as supporters of Henyard clashed with her opponents following the decision.
Lightfoot reportedly discovered the village's general fund fell from its initial $5.6 million balance to a $3.6 million deficit, with the local government's credit card charges adding up to over $779,000 in 2023.
In February, a federal subpoena was issued, coinciding with the day Henyard was defeated in the mayoral primary, FOX 32 reported. The filing relates to a development project involving land reportedly owned by Henyard's boyfriend.
Henyard is reportedly scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. Original article source: Self-proclaimed Democratic 'super mayor' ordered to court as scandal-plagued tenure unravels
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump news at a glance: President praises attacks on Iran as lawmakers divided on US involvement
Washington was in a flurry late on Saturday as Donald Trump announced that the US had completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to destroy the country's nuclear program. American politicians reacted to the news of the US bombing of nuclear targets in Iran with a mix of cheering support and instant condemnation, reflecting deep divisions in the country, as Washington grapples with yet another military intervention overseas. The strikes hit uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Trump said. He warned Iran away from retaliating against US targets in the region, promising that further US strikes would be even more deadly. Here are the key stories at a glance: The US directly joined Israel's effort to destroy the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. The strikes hit uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Trump said. Later, Iran's atomic agency said that the country will carry on with its nuclear activities despite the US attacks on key facilities. Read the full story American politicians displayed a mixed reaction to the news of the US bombing of nuclear targets in Iran. Many democrat denounced the decision, while most Republicans praised the action. US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York, demanded of Senate majority leader and South Dakota Republican John Thune that he should immediately call a vote on the matter. Schumer said the US Congress must enforce the War Powers Act – intended as a check on the US president's power to devote the United States to armed conflict without the consent of the US Congress. Read the full story Mahmoud Khalil – the Palestinian rights activist, Columbia University graduate and legal permanent resident of the US who had been held by federal immigration authorities for more than three months – has been reunited with his wife and infant son. Read the full story The man charged in connection with the recent shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses was a doomsday 'prepper' who instructed his family to 'prepare for war' as he tried to evade capture, according to new court filings. Read the full story Thousands of Afghans who fled to the US as the Taliban grabbed power again in Afghanistan are in mortal dread of being deported back to danger in the coming weeks amid the Trump administration's anti-immigration crackdown. Read the full story Texas will require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a new law that will make the state the nation's largest to attempt to impose such a mandate. Pakistan nominated Donald Trump for Nobel peace prize, for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan. Federal health officials are seeking to launch a 'bold, edgy' public service campaign to warn Americans of the dangers of ultra-processed foods in social media, transit ads, billboards and even text messages. And they potentially stand to profit off the results. Catching up? Here's what happened on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rep. Jim Himes warns Iran strike could lead to ‘dead soldiers and sailors'
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, warned on Sunday that President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran could lead to a 'worst-case scenario' that draws the U.S. into another prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Himes, a Democrat, told host Jonathan Karl on ABC's 'This Week' the Iran strike is a 'massive, massive gamble' that could embroil the nation in an overseas conflict similar to previous U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. 'We've seen this movie before,' Himes said, referencing the ascension of the Taliban in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 after maintaining a military presence in the country for 20 years. Himes outlined the 'worst-case scenario' as the possibility that Iran suffered minimal damage to its nuclear facilities and strikes back at U.S. military personnel leading to 'dead soldiers and sailors in the region.' On Sunday, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. inflicted 'severe damage' on the three Iranian nuclear sites it targeted, but added it was too soon to determine whether Iran still possessed nuclear capabilities. When asked if it's possible that Trump's strike on Iran would result in a best-case scenario, Himes conceded there is 'some chance' of a positive outcome. 'But if you look at the history — and again, all we have is history to go on, if you look at the history of our military involvements in the region, they almost never end with the best-case scenario,' Himes said. 'In fact, they usually end in something approximating the worst-case scenario.' Himes also expressed concern that the strike on Iran could destabilize other nations in the region, inciting further danger to U.S. allies. He highlighted Jordan as an example, citing popular unrest in the country. 'It's not inconceivable that his people may decide, 'Hey, we've had it with you being allied with the Israelis and the United States,'' he said. 'And now we have chaos in Jordan.' Himes reiterated that it may take 'months or years' to determine whether Trump made the right decision in striking Iran, but said it would be 'crazy' to expect the best-case scenario to play out. 'Looking at history, you would be sort of crazy to put all your chips on the best outcome anytime we enter into military conflict in the Middle East,' he said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Republican representative's ectopic pregnancy clashes with Florida abortion law
A Florida Republican congresswoman is blaming fearmongering on the left for the reluctance of hospital staff to give her the drugs she needed to end an ectopic pregnancy that threatened her life. Kat Cammack went to the emergency room in May 2024 where it was estimated she was five weeks into an ectopic pregnancy, there was no heartbeat and her life was at risk. Doctors determined she needed a shot of methotrexate to help expel her pregnancy but since Florida's six week abortion ban had just taken effect medical staff were worried about losing their licenses or going to jail if they did. Cammack looked up the state law on her phone to show staff and even attempted to contact the governor's office. Hours later, doctors eventually agreed to give her the medication. Related: Women and men diverge more than ever on support for abortion rights, poll shows But Cammack, who opposes abortion and co-chairs the House pro-life caucus, told the Wall Street Journal she blames messaging from pro-abortion groups for delaying her treatment, which is not banned under Florida's restrictive statutes, who have created fear of criminal charges. Over a year later and once again pregnant and due to give birth soon, Cammack says the politics of the incident have stuck with her. 'It was absolute fearmongering at its worst,' Cammack told the publication, but acknowledged that abortion rights groups might interpret her experience differently and blame Republican-led, restrictive anti-abortion laws for the issue. 'There will be some comments like, 'Well, thank God we have abortion services,' even though what I went through wasn't an abortion,' she told the outlet. Florida's strict abortion ban, which took effect on 1 May 2024, makes abortions illegal after six weeks, when most people aren't even aware yet that they are pregnant. After months in which medical staff were concerned that the law's wording made emergency procedures illegal, the state's healthcare agency issued official guidance to 'address misinformation' on permitting an abortion in instances where the pregnant person's life and health are in danger. Cammack said she hoped that going public with her experience would help opposing political groups find common ground. Related: Democrats introduce bill that aims to protect reproductive health data 'I would stand with any woman – Republican or Democrat – and fight for them to be able to get care in a situation where they are experiencing a miscarriage and an ectopic' pregnancy, she said. Abortion rights activists say the law created problems. Florida regulators say ectopic pregnancies aren't abortions and are exempt from restrictions, but Molly Duane, with the Center for Reproductive Rights, told the Wall Street Journal the law doesn't define ectopic pregnancy, which can be difficult to diagnose. Alison Haddock, the president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, told the outlet care in early pregnancy is a 'medically complicated space' and that doctors in abortion-restricted states worry 'whether their clinical judgment will stand should there be any prosecution'.
