Former Assistant to Dolton Mayor Speaks Out About Alleged Sexual Assault in Las Vegas – NBC Chicago

For the first time, the woman at the center of a legal battle between Dolton Trustee Andrew Holmes and Mayor Tiffany Henyard released a recorded public video message Monday detailing what she said happened during and after a taxpayer-funded business trip to Las Vegas last year May happened.

In the video of her pre-recorded statement, which was shared with NBC Chicago via a link, Fenia Dukes, the mayor’s former assistant, accuses Holmes of having non-consensual sex with her.

In the video, Dukes said she was an assault survivor and that it was time to share her story.

“This has been a long journey for me,” she said in the video.

Dukes filed a civil lawsuit against Holmes and Henyard, accusing Holmes of assault and Henyard of retaliation.

“I fight for every woman who has been in my position,” she said in the pre-recorded video provided to NBC Chicago. “I’m fighting for a sister who has no voice.”

Fenia Dukes, former assistant to Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, released this recorded message telling her story about an alleged sexual assault against trustee Andrew Holmes on a business trip to Las Vegas.

The incident allegedly occurred on May 24, 2023, during an economic development trip to Las Vegas that is currently under investigation by the federal government. The trip included Henyard, a handful of Thornton village and township representatives, and Holmes, whom Duke’s uncle called Dru.

“He made everyone feel comfortable,” Dukes said in the video. “I’ve even been alone with him in some places… and he never gave me any idea that he was going to harm me.”

According to the lawsuit, Dukes said that after dinner and a walk with Holmes on the Las Vegas Strip, she felt disoriented and eventually passed out.

“My last memory was waking up in his room,” she said.

The lawsuit describes a conversation between Dukes and Officer Byron Miles as they returned from Las Vegas.

Miles was a member of Mayor Henyard’s security detail at the time. Miles claimed that Holmes told him he had unprotected sex with Dukes in Las Vegas. The lawsuit also alleges that Holmes showed Dukes partially undressed in his hotel bed in a video call with Miles.

According to the lawsuit, Miles advised Dukes to seek medical help.

“You were the only one who stood up for me and spoke up, and I appreciate you for that,” Dukes said of Miles.

According to the lawsuit, Dukes claims she was fired shortly after she brought the charges against Holmes to Henyard.

Miles was relieved of his role in the mayor’s security detail and demoted to patrol duty. Miles also filed a civil lawsuit and the Department of Human Rights opened an investigation.

The village told NBC Chicago in a statement that it conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations led by an independent third-party firm.

The statement goes on to say that Officer Miles was interviewed and denied knowing anything about these allegations. It said Dukes had refused to cooperate with the village’s investigation, calling it “nothing more than two disgruntled village employees trying to get away with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars” and “the village looks forward to this.” to defend accusations.”

Holmes did not respond to NBC Chicago’s repeated requests for comment.

Dukes said she started a foundation to support women like her.

“If you are a victim, find a way to contact me or my people,” she said. “We will help you because you need a voice, and if you don’t have one, it will be me.”

Dolton trustees hired Lori Lightfoot, former Chicago mayor and former federal prosecutor, to lead an investigation into Mayor Henyard.