WGN sues Dolton for refusing to release spending records

WGN is suing the Village of Dolton in Cook County Circuit Court for refusing to release spending records and other documents related to Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s perks and pay.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Nexstar Media Inc., the Irving, Texas-based owner of WGN-TV.

Last November, WGN Investigates sent Dolton a public records request, seeking copies of the agency’s credit card statements, as well as records relating to Henyard’s compensation and the cost of her taxpayer-funded vehicle.

Previous: Dolton misses deadline for release of spending records

But Dolton declined to release the records, in an apparent violation of state open records laws.

WGN Investigates filed an appeal with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, the agency that oversees state transparency laws.

In a rare binding opinion, dated Feb. 9, the attorney general ordered Dolton to release the credit card statements, along with the other requested documents.

The village had until March 15 to comply. But it still has not released the records.

Nexstar is asking a judge to order Dolton to comply with the attorney general’s opinion and release the documents. The attorney general’s office was made aware that Dolton missed the deadline, but it did not take legal action to enforce the non-compliance.

An attorney general spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud

Dolton Trustee Tammie Brown is among a group of trustees who have publicly clashed with Henyard. She had not seen a copy of the lawsuit but said she wasn’t surprised it was filed.

“We have so many people who tell us they have filed FOIA requests with the Village of Dolton and not received the information,” said Brown.

More Coverage from Dolton:

Mayor, money and mistrust in Dolton
Subpoenas reveal Tiffany Henyard & her allies are FBI focus

WGN Investigates recently reported how Henyard is the focus of a wide-ranging FBI investigation.

Subpoenas served in recent weeks to Dolton and Thornton Township, where Henyard also serves as supervisor, reveal federal agents are investigating many of the same issues that WGN Investigates has reported on in the past year.

A Henyard spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.

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