State lawmaker under federal investigation reacts to Dolton officials
being charged and accused
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[April 19, 2024]
By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – A state legislator responding Wednesday to news of
Dolton village officials being investigated for possible corruption and
one being charged with fraud said it's up to authorities to investigate
the alleged crimes.
Tiffany Henyard, mayor of Dolton, is accused of misconduct, corruption,
sexual harassment and retaliation against opponents by some in her
village. Separately, a senior administrator for the village, Keith
Douglas Freeman of Orland Park, has been charged with federal bankruptcy
fraud.
State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, who is also the mayor of
Calumet City, was asked to react to the Henyard scandal and Freeman’s
charges. Calumet City is 10 minutes west of Dolton and Jones’ house
district includes the village of Dolton.
“I heard Tiffany Henyard is down here in Springfield so ask her that
question. I will just say let’s leave this to the authorities to
investigate,” Jones told The Center Square.
Henyard is accused of weaponizing police in what critics say is
retaliatory business raids and spending taxpayer money on luxurious
trips. Now she is facing investigation by the Dolton trustees as well as
the FBI. The investigation conducted by the trustees is being
spearheaded by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
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Attempts by The Center Square were made to find Henyard, but she
couldn’t be located for comment. The Center Square requested comment and
Henyard's office did not immediately respond.
Freeman, the top aide to the Dolton mayor, was indicted on bankruptcy
fraud charges Tuesday. A federal indictment says Freeman failed to
report his income from the Village of Dolton. Freeman also allegedly hid
his income during bankruptcy proceedings.
Jones did not say if he has heard from constituents about concerns of
corruption being exhibited by municipal officials in his district.
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Dolton, Illinois, Mayor Tiffany Henyard being inaugurated. -
vodolton.org
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Several residents of Dolton took to the microphone at a recent village
board meeting, expressing their frustration with Henyard not stepping
down as mayor amid the allegations. Dolton resident Mary Avon said she
wants Henyard to step down pending the outcome of the investigation.
"In light of the allegations, I as a resident of Dolton, former law
enforcement and female along with other Dolton residents would like to
see you have some integrity and step down pending the outcome of this
investigation,” Avon said at the board meeting held on April 1. “To our
attorney, it is a disgrace you will not explain to this body what the
rules of the First Amendment are … total violation.”
Residents tried to clap for public commenters who spoke at the regular
village board meeting held on April 1, but they were told by an officer
to stop for "safety reasons."
When asked if constituents from the area have concerns about their
officials following the laws, Jones said he didn’t know Freeman.
"Let the authorities investigate this. I don’t want to impede an
investigation. I will say I don’t know Keith Freeman," Jones said.
"Never met him and I don’t want to meet him. Let’s just let the
authorities investigate this."
When asked if Jones’ constituents would contact him with their concerns
about officials being charged with fraud and corruption considering his
own federal investigation regarding campaign finance, Jones said he’s in
Springfield "doing the work of the people."
"I am down here doing the work of the people and I will leave that to
the authorities to investigate,” said Jones.
Jones said it’s not true that constituents aren’t calling him with
concerns regarding political corruption.
The U.S. attorney’s office issued a grand jury subpoena in January 2022
to the Illinois State Board of Elections seeking records on three
campaign funds controlled by Jones, according to a copy of the subpoena
provided to the Chicago Tribune via an open records request. Jones is
under criminal investigation for tax issues involving his campaign
funds. |