The former mayor of a Chicago suburb, Tiffany Henyard, has announced a new business venture amid her ongoing legal troubles. Henyard, who once held the title of “super mayor” in Dolton, is set to release a “tell-all” autobiography called “Standing on Business.” Her announcement on Facebook included a link to pre-order the book, priced at $99, which is the first in a planned three-part series.
Her Facebook post boldly declared, “From mommy moves to making history, [Henyard] is not just showing up. She’s standing on business.” However, the public reaction has been far from supportive, with many expressing skepticism about her motives. One commenter on the Dolton Politics Facebook Page criticized, “Still trying to hustle money!”
In response to Henyard’s pricey book, another social media user noted, “Michelle Obama’s bestseller was cheaper than this mess.” Despite the backlash, Henyard’s legal team has remained tight-lipped, not responding to requests for comments from Fox News Digital. This latest development comes as Henyard grapples with legal issues from her time as Dolton mayor and Thornton Township supervisor.
Earlier this month, Henyard invoked the Fifth Amendment in a court hearing concerning a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Her attorney, Beau Bridley, addressed the situation, stating, “The smear campaign against Tiffany Henyard, which began while she was in office, continues even now that she is out of office.” The lawsuit revolves around allegations that Henyard failed to provide public records during her tenure as mayor.
Henyard was previously found in contempt of court for not producing the requested documents related to the lawsuit. Her lawyer acknowledged that Henyard does not possess these documents, and an Illinois judge permitted an affidavit to be submitted instead. “The mayor has no document that the plaintiff seeks,” Bridley explained. “This matter is going to be resolved with a simple affidavit.”
The lawsuit was originally filed by the Edgar County Watchdogs Inc. after they sued Henyard and the Village of Dolton for not providing financial records under federal FOIA laws. Edward “Coach” Weinhaus, the attorney for the Watchdogs, commented, “We had little doubt Ms. Henyard would use losing the election as an excuse not to produce the documents.” He added, “The Watchdogs will keep looking for the documents even if the voters might have inadvertently thrown out the documents with the mayor.”
Henyard first gained national attention in April 2024 when officials in her administration were subpoenaed by the FBI over an alleged corruption investigation. Despite the investigation, Henyard has not been charged. In response to the FBI inquiry, village trustees hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to scrutinize Henyard’s spending during her term, a decision that led to confrontations between Henyard’s supporters and opponents.
The financial investigation revealed a concerning drop in the village’s bank account, from $5.6 million to a $3.6 million deficit. Earlier this year, Henyard lost the mayoral primary to Jason House, who assumed office in May. Coinciding with her electoral defeat, federal authorities issued a subpoena to the Village of Dolton for records linked to a land development project allegedly involving Henyard’s boyfriend.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Julia Bonavita have contributed to this report, providing insights into the ongoing legal and political saga. Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Writer for Fox News Digital and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. Follow her at @juliabonavita13 on social media or send story tips to [email protected].
