Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard faced legal repercussions after being found in contempt of court for allegedly delaying liquor licenses for a local business. The owners of St. Patrick's, a restaurant and banquet hall, filed a lawsuit against Henyard in August, claiming she repeatedly failed to sign their licenses despite approval from the village board. Henyard, who also serves as the village liquor commissioner, reportedly made promises to sign the licenses in court but missed a subsequent deadline, leading to further court appearances.
Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan declared Henyard in indirect criminal contempt for disrespecting the court's authority. The mayor's attorney argued that a third-party entity listed on the documents caused the delay. Under threat of further contempt charges, Henyard signed two of the three licenses, allowing St. Patrick's to finally open. The business owners are pursuing the third license and seeking additional penalties against Henyard for the financial losses incurred due to the delays.
This incident adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Henyard, including allegations of misusing taxpayer funds, excessive spending, and wrongful termination of an employee. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot conducted an investigation into these matters and is expected to release her findings soon. The FBI is also investigating Henyard for alleged corruption in Dolton and Thornton Township, where she recently lost her bid for re-nomination as supervisor.
