'America's Worst Mayor' Tiffany Henyard covered up my rape, says woman who claims she was assaulted during work trip with a colleague

An Illinois official dubbed 'America's Worst Mayor' by critics now faces a public outing by the victim of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place on a taxpayer-funded business trip in Las Vegas.

Tiffany Henyard, 40, the Mayor of Dolton, is facing claims of misusing funds, wrongful termination and covering up the sexual assault of a former employee. 

The village has hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to investigate Henyard, which she vetoed, while reports emerged last week that she's under criminal investigation after being subpoenaed by the feds. 

Now, Fenia Dukes, Henyard's former assistant, has made her claims regarding Henyard and Dolton Trustee Andrew Holmes public in a video released Monday.

Dukes accused Holmes of raping her during the trip to Las Vegas with the pair in May of 2023.

Tiffany Henyard, 40, the Mayor of Dolton, is facing claims of misusing funds, wrongful termination and covering up the sexual assault of a former employee

Fenia Dukes, Henyard's former assistant, has made her claims regarding Henyard and Dolton Trustee Andrew Holmes public in a video released Monday

'This has been a long journey for me already,' Dukes said. 'I'm fighting for every woman that's been in my position. I'm fighting for a sister that doesn't have a voice.'

Dukes has already filed a civil suit against Holmes, for the assault, and Henyard for retaliating.  

She was there on an 'economic development trip' with Henyard and Holmes - whom she referred to as 'Uncle Dru' - as well as officials of the village and a neighboring town.

'He made everyone feel comfortable,' Dukes said of Holmes. 'I've even been in places by myself with him ... and he's never gave me an inkling of he'll harm me.'

However, on the night of May 24, 2023, Dukes said that she had dinner and walked the Vegas Strip with Holmes before she started to feel uncomfortable and blacked out. 

'My last memory was me waking up in his room,' she said.

In her lawsuit, Dukes says that a member of Henyard's security detail, Officer Byron Miles, was told by Holmes that he had unprotected sex with Dukes and even showed a partially-undressed Dukes in his bed on a video call to Miles.

Dukes thanked Miles in the video for being 'the only one who stood up for me and opened your mouth.'

Dukes has already filed a civil suit against Holmes, for the assault, and Henyard for retaliating

Henyard is accused of attempting to protect Dolton Trustee and community activist Andrew Holmes after he was accused of sexual assault. Holmes (pictured) denies the claims 

Henyard, dubbed 'America's Worst Mayor' by her critics, is also said to be the subject of a criminal investigation

She claims Henyard fired her after she made the accusation of rape against Holmes, while Miles - who is also filing a lawsuit - received a demotion that took him off Henyard's security detail. 

The village of Dolton told NBC Chicago that Miles denied knowing about the incident when they hired a third-party company to investigate.

They called the suit 'nothing more than two disgruntled village employees trying to make off with the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars' and 'the village looks forward to defending these allegations.'

Dukes says she's starting a foundation to support women in situations similar to her own.

'If you are a victim, find your way to contact me or my people,' she said. 'We are going to help you, because you need a voice, and if you don't have one, I will be.' 

Holmes has denied the allegations against him, and has not been charged by police.

The video is the latest in a series of increasingly bizarre accusations against Henyard. 

FBI agents served subpoenas last week at the Thornton Township Hall, where Henyard also works as township supervisor, reported FOX 32 Chicago.

FBI agents served subpoenas last week at the Thornton Township Hall, where Henyard also works as township supervisor

Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard slammed her city colleagues as she faced an investigation into her finances, telling them 'there is a right way to do things, and this is just not that' 

Trustees in Dolton voted to hire former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured) to investigate the embattled mayor, before the move was vetoed on Monday 

The local news station obtained copies of the subpoenas and revealed the embattled mayor is the target of a growing criminal investigation.  

'It's very broad in scope. It's very broad in the number of people and entities they're asking for records on. So there must be some serious allegations of wrongdoing that they're trying to get to the bottom of,' former FBI agent Ross Rice told FOX 32.

'The mayor and the Township Supervisor, who are one and the same, appear to be the primary focus of the investigation.'

'Overall, it tells me that the investigation is expanding. It's not just focusing on the City of Dolton,' Rice said.

One subpoena is reported to focus entirely on Henyard, including a restaurant and a property management company she owns, as well as her political fund and the charity bearing her name. 

The subpoena seeks all records including personnel files, wage and tax statements, time and attendance, records of work performed, contracts, and checks written to 'cash.'

The second subpoena is said to request township records, including financial reports, budgets, payroll records, and ordinances covering credit card purchases, expense reimbursements, security details and use of vehicles.  

The Del Galdo Law Group is asking to withdraw from cases in which it represents Henyard and the village of Dolton, Illinois.

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

Dolton Democrat Mayor Tiffany Henyard, 40, faces a litany of investigations over claims of corruption, sexual harassment and retaliation against political opponents

In a letter to Henyard and trustees, the firm said the village is approaching the point of becoming uninsurable. It faces millions of dollars in judgments from earlier cases and could potentially be required to shell out millions more in the coming months.

To add insult to injury, the firm has allegedly not been paid for its work.

'The Board recently voted to stop paying our legal bills,' reads the letter provided to DailyMail.com. 'We are, of course, not required to work for free and decline to do so.'

The firm announced that it would no longer be entering any appearances or defending newly filed cases and would withdraw from an additional 19 cases, effective May 8.

Five of the cases involve 'serious injury or death,' including two 'jail suicide by hanging cases' and two 'officer involved shooting wrongful death causes of action'.

'No one wants to represent the Village,' the firm continued.

'The Village already has a $33.5 million judgment against it that the previous administration and the Board ignored please to settle within policy limits, where the Village's best hope is that the jury verdict will be reversed on appeal.

'If that is unsuccessful, the Village will owe more than $20M in excess insurance policy limits on that case alone.'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds 

The video is the latest in a series of increasingly bizarre accusations against Henyard 

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 the firm, Dolton 'is quickly approaching the point of being uninsurable' due to its immense debt.

In addition to her entanglement in the village's legal affairs, Henyard, 40, is the subject of 22 lawsuits regarding her conduct.

She faces a slew of accusations ranging from misusing funds while Dolton slides deeper into debt, to wrongful termination, to covering up sexual misconduct by a village employee.

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was tapped to investigate claims against Henyard by the village of Dolton.

Henyard erupted in a furious rant on Monday evening as she shot down the probe, telling her colleagues at a city council meeting: 'How dare you!'

After trustees voted to hire Lightfoot - a former prosecutor - for $400 an hour to investigate, Henyard rejected the move, telling the city council meeting: 'You know, it's veto power, so how dare you think you can come into someone’s town and do work.'

'There is a right way to do things, and this is just not that,' she said. '(Lightfoot) will not be paid for her services.' 

Dolton, around 20 miles south of Chicago, has a population of only around 20,000 people, but the small town has been thrust into the spotlight amid controversies surrounding Henyard.