Jax investigatory committee reopens after emails contradict LeAnna Cumber’s claims

Lydia Nusbaum contributed to this report.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Jacksonville City Council President Terrance Freeman reopened a Special Investigatory Committee on JEA matters after emails contradicted Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber’s claims that she had no conflicts of interest in the JEA attempted sale.

However, surfaced emails show her husband was involved, prompting requests from councilmembers to investigate further. Cumber is a councilmember and a Republican Jacksonville mayoral candidate.

“In order to ensure to the people of Jacksonville that the city government was not deceived by any bidders or elected officials during the investigation into the attempted sale of JEA, I hereby renew and recharge the Special Investigatory Committee on JEA matters. The Committee’s power to subpoena related to its legislative purpose will also continue,” the press release said.

The Committee is charged to do the following:

• Investigate whether the Committee was deceived or misled by Council Member Cumber or JEA Public Power Partners responding to subpoenas or making disclosures.
• Ascertain whether Council Member Cumber attempted to use her official position to influence the ITN process for personal gain. 
• Propose legislation to ensure that such deceptions, if any, do not impede the work of any future investigatory committee.

In 2019, then President Scott Wilson announced the Special Investigatory Committee on JEA Matters to restore public trust in JEA after the failed sale attempt and the alleged attempt to profit off that sale by a certain JEA executive. The “scandal” has “embroiled” the community for the last years.

In 2021, the Special Investigatory Committee chair asked city council members to disclose whether they or their immediate family members had “any interaction” with people or entities connected with the 2019 JEA attempted sale.

In March 2021, Cumber made her disclosures regarding the Invitation to Negotiate and said, “I have no conflicts regarding JEA and ITN.”

However, emails obtained by Florida’s Voice show her husband, Husein Cumber, had been involved with the discussions surrounding the sale.

“Documents have come to light, including emails and text messages, that contradict responses given by JEA Public Power Partners and the disclosure provided by Council Member Cumber,” Freeman’s letter said.

In one email Florida’s Voice obtained, Husein Cumber is editing a question that the team would submit to JEA during the official Q&A period.

LeAnna Cumber defended her decision not to disclose Husein in an interview with FOX30. The outlet reported that the councilmember claims disclosing Husein “could have compromised the integrity of the federal investigation into ousted JEA CEO Aaron Zahn, as Husein was actively acting as an FBI informant at the time.”

“To make sure that the people who were trying to steal a billion dollars from this city were brought to justice. My singular focus was to make sure I did nothing to impede that,” Cumber said to FOX30.