TALLAHASSEE - Florida Parole Commission Chairman Jimmie Henry has resigned, citing personal and family reasons, while law enforcement agents confirmed Monday that they're looking into unspecified allegations involving the commission stemming from an audit.
Henry has been a parole commissioner for six years and chairman of the three-member panel since 1998. The commission makes decision on parole and post-prison supervision for prisoners.
Last week, Henry submitted his resignation to Gov. Jeb Bush, effective Friday. Bush press secretary Alia Faraj said the governor accepted the resignation, but said she had no other information about Henry's decision. Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman Al Dennis said Monday that agents were investigating "a matter" involving the commission and Henry, based on information that came out of an inquiry by the state Auditor General's Office. Dennis said the investigation involved Henry, but declined to be more specific. He also wouldn't say whether Henry himself was under investigation.
Henry has an unlisted phone number and couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
It also wasn't clear whether the inquiry by the Auditor General's Office was complete. Henry has a long career in state government, having started at the Florida Commission on Human Relations in 1979. He also has a served as a financial investigator dealing with cases involving abuse of state funds, and served as chief Cabinet aide to former Comptroller Bob Milligan.
