Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot paid $400 an hour to investigate Illinois mayor's spending

The trustees of Dolton, Illinois, appointed former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a special investigator at the rate of $400 an hour to probe the spending of the village's mayor.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, as well as two village trustees, did not attend the meeting on Monday, but about 150 community members did, and all four trustees who were present voted in favor of appointing Lightfoot, a former assistant U.S. attorney, to investigate the mayor, according to Fox 32 Chicago.

The trustees of the Cook County village accused Henyard of being responsible for "excessive and unauthorized use of village funds," which resulted in Dolton having a multi-million-dollar deficit, per The Chicago Tribune.

The decision comes after Henyard vetoed a trustee resolution last month that would have investigated her spending and alleged misuse of funds. The resolution also called for the FBI to investigate. 

Heynard, who is paid $224,000 a year to lead the village with a population of about 20,600 people, also faces lawsuits from former village employees for alleged retaliation. 

Attorney Michael del Galdo, who Henyard previously hired as Dolton prosecutor, told the trustees' legal team before the meeting Monday that the mayor will "not be approving any payments to Lightfoot." He argued that Lightfoot's appointment is illegal because the trustees already have legal counsel. However, one of the trustee's attorneys said that Lightfoot's appointment will not pose legal problems since she is being hired as a "special investigator," not as "additional legislative counsel." 

Lightfoot, who lost her reelection bid last year, said she is "honored" to serve in the position and she plans on conducting "a thorough and timely independent investigation."

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