After an embezzlement scandal, sexual harassment claims and mounting ethics violations, how IS 'America's worst mayor' still clinging onto $300,000-a-year job?

America's 'worst mayor' is clinging on to power - and a nearly $300,000 salary - despite a slew of complaints and investigations into claims of corruption, sexual harassment and retaliation against political opponents.

As the list of allegations grows against Tiffany Henyard, who is mayor of the small village of Dolton, Illinois, critics and some of her own constituents are asking how she still remains in position.

The litany of accusations against Henyard, who is also supervisor of Thornton Township immediately south of Chicago, include misspending taxpayers' money on lavish trips, employing a convicted sex offender to a public role and firing staff who refuse to support her.

The FBI is investigating Henyard for corruption and, on Monday, the Dolton board of trustees appointed former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead another probe into Henyard. Lightfoot's appointment, at a cost of $400 an hour, has also proved controversial after her disappointing stint as Chicago mayor.

Repeated efforts to oust Henyard have failed. A recall vote in favor of removing her from office was overturned by an appeals court and opponents are now hoping the slew of investigations will trigger her downfall and possibly even criminal charges. 

Tiffany Henyard, Mayor of the small village of Dolton, Illinois, is clinging on to power - and a nearly $300,000 salary - despite a slew of complaints and investigations into her

She was elected mayor of the village, population around 21,000, in 2021 but quickly gained notoriety and the label 'America's worst mayor' for her lavish personal spending and bombastic approach to politics, which has included recruiting DJs to perform at village meetings. 

Recent meetings of the Village of Dolton have descended into confrontations about Henyard's conduct, with residents pleading with her to step down. But Henyard has  used her mayoral powers to block attempts to oust her.

Last week she vetoed a resolution passed by the village board in support of an investigation into her spending. The board, which has a majority who are against Henyard, has overrode her veto powers on several occasions.

Henyard is paid nearly $50,000 for her role as mayor, plus a further $224,000 as supervisor of Thornton Township.

Attorney Burt Odelson, legislative counsel for the Dolton Board of Trustees, said: 'Bills aren't getting paid, the poor village is $7 million in debt and she goes on Las Vegas junkets. 

'That seems to be the most obnoxious thing she has done. But it is not. There [are] many, many more.'

Odelson said the litany of claims and Henyard's refusal to step down or explain herself have led to 'the oddest situation' he has encountered in five decades as an attorney representing municipalities. 

'The people are suffering because they are denied services,' he said, adding that Henyard has 'pillaged the village'.

She has also been accused of weaponizing the local police force to act as her own security detail and retaliate against her political opponents. 

Henyard denies wrongdoing. 

Attorney Burt Odelson, legislative counsel for the Dolton Board of Trustees, claims Henyard has 'pillaged the village' through her spending and alleged impropriety

But amid the growing pressure on Henyard, Odelson said he believes justice is close. 

'There is so much heat,' Odelson told WGN Radio. 'I'm hoping the authorities will move because there's nothing we can do, we're not the cops and we're not the prosecutors. 

'But she is illegally spending money from the Village of Dolton on things she shouldn't be spending money on and not paying the vendors who are providing services to the village. That's just the tip of the iceberg.'

Former Chicago Mayor Lightfoot became the latest litigator in the fight against Henyard when she was hired by the Village of Dolton on Monday.

Lightfoot, who failed to secure reelection as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour.

She is an attorney who previously worked as a federal prosecutor and was also president of the Chicago Police Board and chair of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force.

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing,' Lightfoot said. 'I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete.'

But the investigation may be challenging because Lightfoot has no powers to subpoena village records because she does not work for a law enforcement agency.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot may have a new job very soon, as she's been hired by the nearby village of Dolton, Illinois to investigator their mayor, whom many have called 'America's worst'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds and retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and last month vetoed an investigation into the allegations

Henyard, a Democrat, was not present at the meeting on Monday when Lightfoot's investigation was approved.

Lightfoot has been tasked by the board with investigating 'all allegations of misconduct, and all internal investigations, if any, along with any village state and federal law violations,' Dolton Trustee Jason House said.

'It is my sincere hope that Mayor Henyard will voluntarily cooperate, but should they not, we are prepared to do what is necessary to get to the facts,'  Lightfoot said.

'It's obvious that a veto will happen, but we have the majority, but the four of us have the majority,' Dolton Trustee Kenia Belcher said, referring to the trustees' power to overrule the mayor's decisions. 

Lightfoot - who was ousted as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour

Lightfoot may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people. 

The high-rolling mayor has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail.

DailyMail.com has also reported how she allegedly billed the village $7,650 for hair and makeup.

She has been accused of unlawfully signing off contracts as dozens of unpaid suppliers threaten to take the village to court. Opponents claim her actions are leaving Dolton with a massive financial deficit.

Henyard has also been accused by a former employee of sexual harassment and retaliation. 

The former employee claims the mayor fired her after she said she was sexually assaulted at a work trip in Las Vegas. 

'Us figuring out what happened in Vegas is extremely important for the residents,' said Dolton Board of Trustee member Brittney Norwood. 

A year after her election, Dolton residents also triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes.

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people 

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail 

According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others 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 register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance.

Some 56 percent of voters backed the recall referendum to remove Henyard but the vote was later ruled illegal by the Illinois Appellate Court and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium.

Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.'

The village board had voted through a motion to ask agencies including the FBI, the US attorney, the Cook County sheriff and Cook County state's attorney to investigate Henyard earlier this year.

Henyard vetoed the invitation, but FBI agents were already talking to dozens of people in the village of about its unpaid bills.

The mayor has admitted a $2 million deficit, blaming the trustees for incompetence, but some fear the true figure could be as high as $5 million.

The village owes more than $427,000 to a company that repaved its streets, and another $400,000 to a tree-trimming company that worked for it last year.

The FBI is now investigating spending on limos, first class flights and a professional hair and makeup team

In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported

Henyard had her charity 'Tiffany Henyard Cares' shut down last month by the Illinois Attorney General amid claims it used taxpayer money and the services of public employees.

She and other officials are accused of spending more than $67,000 of public money on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City, traveling first-class on some of the flights, and spending $13,000 on a stay in New York.

The first female mayor in the town's 128-year history was at the White House meeting President Joe Biden in January, but she has been accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign.

One resident, Lawrence Gardner, claimed that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking business after he refused to renew a $3,500 contribution to her political fund.

The mayor was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist.

She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on security details, including one occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit.

A successful recall vote was overturned on a technicality last year prompting her to dance on a podium at the subsequent board meeting to the strains of Rihanna's 'B***h Better Have My Money'.

Heynard is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond  (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender 

'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor,' she posted on Instagram, prompting some to call her the 'Dolton Dictator.'

She has not been charged with an offense and is defiant against critics she claims 'should be ashamed of themselves'.

She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances.

Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations. 

Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees.

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported.