Woman accusing community activist Andrew Holmes of assault releases video statement
DOLTON, Ill. — A woman who claims she was assaulted by a well-known community activist while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Las Vegas has released an edited video statement that answers some questions about the incident.
Fenia Dukes released the video Monday, following several weeks of communications between her and WGN Investigates about a potential interview.
Dukes said she wanted to share her story because she feels victimized twice: first by community activist Andrew Holmes, a colleague she respected, and then again when she reported the alleged incident to her boss, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Holmes is a Dolton village trustee and ally of the embattled mayor.
“I deemed him ‘Uncle Drew,” Duke said. “I gave him that name and it went all the way down to the mayor calling him Uncle Drew. That was just his name because he made everyone feel comfortable.”
Her claims in the recorded statement mimic those those she made in a recently filed civil lawsuit and police report.
Dukes was Henyard’s assistant last May when she said Henyard took her, Holmes and an entourage of a dozen people to Las Vegas to attend an economic development conference.
On the last night, Dukes said she was relieved when Holmes said he’d go out with her on the Strip to celebrate her birthday. She later told police she blacked out after a night of drinking and smoking marijuana.
“I at least knew I got a man with me. I’m going to make it home,” Dukes said. “I don’t have to worry about going out on The Strip by myself. I legitimately thought I was going to make it home until my last memory was waking-up in his room.”
Holmes denies wrong-doing but has declined to comment.
Dukes and a police officer who was on the trip acting as Henyard’s bodyguard are now suing, claiming they were retaliated against for reporting the alleged assault to Henyard the day after they returned home.
The lawsuit says Holmes made a video call to the officer, boasting about having Dukes in his room.
“Trustee Holmes then panned the camera toward a bed where [the officer] could see a woman, Ms. Dukes, who was partially undressed,” the suit claims. It goes on to say Holmes “moved the camera to various private areas of Ms. Dukes’ body” and was “removing articles of clothing.”
Dukes praised the police officer for reporting what she says was a crime.
“You’re the only person that stood up for me, opened your mouth and had the dignity to put everything else aside, your whole personal life aside, for somebody you didn’t know,” Dukes said. “You honored the badge you took a vow for.”
Dukes and the officer say in the lawsuit that when they reported the incident to Henyard the day after they returned from Las Vegas, the mayor first feared that if it got out she’d be “ruined.” They say she then vowed to handle it.
In the weeks that followed, Dukes said she was essentially fired and the officer demoted off Henyard’s security detail.
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Holmes has not been charged and continues to serve on the Dolton village board. Police have only said their investigation is ongoing.
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