× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

Department of Corrections secretary Ed Wall has resigned amid a wide-ranging investigation of the state’s youth prison, now led by the FBI.

The disclosure Friday of Wall’s resignation came hours after federal officials confirmed that the FBI is leading the investigation of alleged abuses at the state’s only youth prison, Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma.

It came less than a day after Gov. Scott Walker’s office acknowledged it was warned of safety problems at Lincoln Hills dating back to 2012 — which appeared at odds with Walker’s previous comments.

Walker announced Friday that Jon Litscher, a former Corrections secretary appointed by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, will take Wall’s place at DOC.

Walker also told reporters in Appleton on Friday that he wouldn’t rule out shutting down Lincoln Hills.

“What I talked to John Litscher about was … we weren’t taking any options off the table there or anywhere else,” Walker said. “If he came in and made recommendations to me not only about that institution, but about anywhere else in the Department of Corrections we would take it seriously.”