Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent is reportedly under FBI investigation after he allegedly leaked classified information.
Semafor’s White House correspondent, Shelby Talcott, shared the news on X, writing, “Joe Kent is under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, three sources tell me. I’m told the investigation pre-dates his departure.”
She added that the news was confirmed by a fourth anonymous source.
Kent resigned from his position on Tuesday, claiming that Iran posed “no imminent threat to our nation,” and argued that it is “clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Kent wrote in a letter to President Trump that “members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran.” He stated that this “echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory.” Such a belief was a “lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women.”
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard defended President Trump, stating he is “responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country.”
“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” she added.
According to the report from Semafor, the investigation predates Kent’s departure. The investigation centers on “allegations that he improperly shared classified information,” the report explains.
