Even after leaving office, Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s first Black female mayor, continues to draw headlines—but not all of them for politics.
At the end of last year, the former mayor faced a personal legal battle over unpaid credit card bills, highlighting a financial struggle that contrasts sharply with her earlier career successes.
Records show that JPMorgan Chase filed a lawsuit against Lightfoot at her $900,000 Wrightwood home in October, claiming she owed more than $11,000 in unpaid charges.
The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, notes that the debt had been declared a charge-off in March 2025.
Lightfoot later made a partial payment of $5,000 in August, which was her last recorded payment.
A Financial Shift from Law to Politics
Lightfoot’s money issues stand in stark contrast to her earlier legal career.
While a partner at the prestigious law firm Mayer Brown between 2014 and 2017, she reported an average adjusted gross income of nearly $972,000.
Her mayoral salary of $216,000 from 2019 to 2023 represented a significant drop from her private-sector earnings.
The Chicago Tribune also reported that in 2021, Lightfoot’s adjusted gross income was $402,414, which included an early $210,000 withdrawal from her retirement accounts to supplement her mayoral salary.
Life After City Hall
Since her 2023 departure—after becoming the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election—Lightfoot has stayed active in academia and public service.
She has taken visiting professor positions at Harvard University, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, and the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy.
Her time in office ended with historically low approval ratings.
A 2024 Harris Poll revealed that only 14% of Chicago residents considered her among the city’s best recent mayors.
Investigating Corruption While Facing Personal Challenges
Even while addressing her own legal and financial matters, Lightfoot took on the role of special investigator in a corruption probe into Dalton, Illinois, former Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Dubbed “America’s worst mayor” for alleged mismanagement, Henyard has denied wrongdoing.
In a 73-page report, Lightfoot revealed that Henyard charged nearly $780,000 to town credit cards in 2023, including lavish trips to Las Vegas.
Championing Accountability in Federal Agencies
Lightfoot hasn’t let her personal legal issues slow her public activism.
Recently, she launched the “ICE Accountability Project,” designed to monitor and document alleged criminal behavior by federal immigration officers.
Speaking to Axios, Lightfoot rejected the Trump administration’s claim that ICE agents enjoy blanket immunity during official duties.
She emphasized that state and local officials still have the right to investigate and hold federal agents accountable for alleged criminal conduct or excessive force.
The initiative comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the fatal ICE shooting of Minneapolis protester Renee Nicole Good.
As calls grow for charges against the agent involved, Lightfoot explained that her project ensures all facts are documented and visible, supporting accountability at every government level.
A Public Figure Under the Lens
Despite ongoing personal financial and legal challenges, Lightfoot remains engaged in civic and academic work.
She declined to comment further through a spokesperson, leaving many to watch closely as she navigates this next chapter of public life.
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