The first female mayor of a small Illinois town is now accused of shutting down businesses that refused to donate to her campaign, just weeks after she was accused of using city funds to finance her glamorous looks.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, 40, is accused of using her official position in the city to retaliate against those who do not comply with her wishes, the New York Post has revealed.
Local residents claim she took on the role of movie gangster Nino Brown from the 1991 film “New Jack City” at official meetings and dressed in an ensemble intended to instill fear.
“People look at politics like a joke, it’s like a mockery right now because of all these things,” Village of Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher told The Post. “She comes to board meetings dressed like Nino Brown.”
During a meeting, she reportedly signaled a DJ to play Rihanna's “B***h Better Have My Money” while fully embracing her Nino Brown persona and even carrying a small stuffed dog with her reminded me of a scene from the movie.
Local residents claim she took on the role of movie gangster Nino Brown from the 1991 film “New Jack City” at official meetings and dressed in an ensemble intended to instill fear
During a meeting, she reportedly signaled a DJ to play Rihanna's “Bitch Better Have My Money” while fully embracing her Nino Brown persona and even carrying a small stuffed dog with her, reminiscent of a scene remembered the film
Tiffany Henyard, 40, is accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign, just weeks after she was criticized for using city money to fund her glamorous looks
One local resident, Lawrence Gardner, alleged that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking company after he refused to renew a $3,500 donation to her political fund.
“I made the payment,” he said. “Then she came every year and asked for the same thing, and we had a problem with that.”
“What is she, Nino Brown?” he said. “All she wants is to make her molest you.” She doesn't like anyone. If you don't do what she says, if you don't do what she says, you're a problem. She doesn't like them.'
Residents and former officials accuse Henyard and Police Chief Lewis Lacey of obstructing local businesses that don't make required payments.
Trustee Kiana Belcher claims former Police Chief Robert Collins admitted to being directed by the mayor to target individuals.
The mayor is under investigation for allegedly misusing public funds for personal expenses and using law enforcement to suppress opposition.
Earlier this month, she was slammed by her critics at a public meeting after she caused outrage by accepting a $300,000 salary.
Henyard was elected leader of Dolton, a village of 20,000, in 2021 but has since come under fire for what many see as excessive spending.
“You should all be ashamed of yourselves because you are all black.” You are all black! “And you all sit up here beating and attacking a black woman who is in power,” she said at a meeting Monday, trying to point to her status as the first female mayor. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”
In a photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a jewelry-laden dog
She regularly employs the services of a professional hair and makeup team and stylist before public appearances and photo shoots for the county's taxpayer-funded billboards. Recent reports show she spent tens of thousands on several first-class trips around the country.
Henyard also tried to pass a law against village trustees who accused her of misusing funds.
“You all forget that I'm the leader.” They want to hear from the mayor. “Y’all haven’t learned this yet,” she said earlier this month. “The mayor, not the trustees, who do nothing.” They just speak with their mouths. Y'all don't do any work, no work!'
Since first reporting on Henyard's spending, it has been revealed that she and other officials have spent more than $67,000 on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City on the village's penny, according to WGN.
Many of the flights were first class, while Henyard's team spent $13,000 in public money to stay in New York.
“It's unfortunate that politics is being played.” “What happened is a million dollars was cut from my budget for political reasons,” said Dolton Police Chief Lewis Lacey.
Henyard doesn't understand the criticism as she believes she is working to improve everyone's lives.
“Everything we do is for the people.” But we are under attack. “We are being scrutinized by the media,” she said. 'For what? Do you love people? Show that they are important to us? We'll go through fire for all of you.'
Henyard is pictured stepping out of a chauffeur-driven SUV in one of her stylish outfits. She is accused of spending taxpayer money on security and professional hair and makeup artists
At a public meeting Monday night, Henyard attempted to shame trustees by pointing to her status as the village's first female mayor and as a Black woman
The village board said the issue is a matter of trust, with citizens and trustees unable to audit their spending.
“At the end of the day, the vendors aren't getting paid.” “The board agreed to this, but the vendors aren't getting paid,” said Dolton Trustee Jason House.
Fellow trustee Brittney Norwood added: “How about you be a good leader and bring it with you? [proposals] on the front lines so that not only we, but the residents and everyone else in America know how the money is being spent?'
Henyard is always photographed in tasteful, expensive-looking outfits. She's posted photos of herself exiting a chauffeur-driven SUV, and one Instagram post even appears to show her with a jewelry-laden dog.
Henyard, who often describes herself as “God's darling,” has now sparked further outrage by proposing a new law that would cap the next mayor's salary at $25,000 unless she remains in that position, Fox reported 32 at the beginning of February.
Many believe the proposal, which has been labeled “illegal,” is an attempt to dissuade anyone from running against them in the 2025 race. Now trustees in her city have filed a lawsuit against her for falsifying and withholding financial records.
The scandal is just the latest to hit the embattled mayor after she was accused of hiring her former campaign aide as an official to enforce the city's laws, even though he is a convicted child rapist.
She also raised eyebrows after she spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on security measures, including one at an event with seniors and another occasion where she pulled police officers off the street to demonstrate a hazmat suit.
After a recall attempt failed, Henyard posted this defiant image on Instagram and declared that she “will remain Dolton's mayor forever.”
Questions have emerged about how she funds her seemingly lavish lifestyle, especially since she repeatedly dodged questions and dismissed criticism by branding community trustees “haters” in TikTok videos.
Dolton trustees say she has not explained the need for her eye-popping security budget. They also allege she issued checks without proper authorization.
“I don't see any justification whatsoever. “And beyond that, it's really a detriment to the citizens of Dolton,” Trustee Jason House told Fox 32.
“If we used the same money for patrol officers on the streets, then residents would see a much better presence and public safety would be better.”
Heynard, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor in May, becoming the first woman and youngest person to hold the position in Dolton's 128-year history.
A year after her election, Dolton residents sparked a recall process driven largely by her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond for a role that would force him to enter people's homes.
Redmond, then 16, and three others reportedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14.
At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison, but was paroled in 2016 and required To as a sex offender. At the time, Henyard defended the move, saying convicts who have served their sentences deserve a second chance.
Henyard also uses professional stylists and hair and makeup teams before events, but does not disclose their funding
However, the recall failed for technical reasons and Henyard remained in office, showing up at the next board meeting, playing a disco song and dancing on the podium.
After the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram declaring herself the “mayor of the people” with the caption: “I am Dolton's mayor and will be forever.”
The post is one of hundreds on the politician's profile, which features glamorous portrait photos of her promoting various events and holidays in the city.
She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, wearing various hand-picked ensembles for her public appearances.
Visitors to the Henyard website are greeted with a giant selfie and encouraged to donate.
Their antics have drawn comparisons to the show “Parks and Recreation,” a comedy that pokes fun at local government employees.