Lightfoot Hired To Investigate Embattled Dolton Mayor: Reports

DOLTON, IL — Ex-Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, has been hired to investigate the village of Dolton’s multimillion-dollar deficit and its embattled mayor, Tiffany Henyard, according to reports.

Lightfoot was brought on at a rate of $400 per hour, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, during a meeting Monday that Henyard, who is expected to veto the appointment, did not attend, according to WLS. The Sun-Times noted trustees have the votes needed to override a veto.

Among the topics Lightfoot is anticipated to investigate are Henyard’s 2023 trip to Las Vegas, her ARPA fund allocations, unapproved vendor payments and the more than $900,000 paid to village prosecutor Michael Del Galdo during the last two years, the Sun-Times reported.

“I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete,” Lightfoot said in a statement published in full by WLS.

“At the conclusion of this investigation, I will provide an assessment of the findings and recommendations. I welcome and urge the full cooperation of Mayor Henyard, her staff, Village Trustees, vendors, and others who have information relevant to this inquiry.”

Del Galdo threatened to sue the village board if Lightfoot was hired as a legislative counsel so she was instead brought on as a special investigator, according to the Sun-Times. The appointment is for a fact-finding probe, meaning information Lightfoot uncovers will then be turned over to appropriate authorities, the Sun-Times reported.