The former senior counterterrorism official Joe Kent reportedly faces an investigation into whether he leaked classified information. The development follows his public and condemning resignation from the National Counterterrorism Center.
Joe Kent will be under FBI investigation, claims report
The investigation into Joe Kent reportedly began before his resignation on March 17. Kent stepped down from his position as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, citing profound moral objections to the administration’s military posture toward Iran. However, a person familiar with the situation claimed to the press on March 18 that the FBI inquiry into a possible leak is active and ongoing (via AP News).
While the specific details regarding the nature of the alleged leak remain unclear, the investigation places Kent in the middle of a politically charged atmosphere. The Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, has launched multiple probes into opposing political figures over the last year. This includes former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. However, prosecutors have often faced difficulties in court, with judges rejecting cases or grand juries declining to return indictments.
Kent publicly announced his resignation via a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he detailed the reasoning behind his decision. He directly challenged the administration’s justification for the ongoing military action. He wrote that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation.” Kent further elaborated on his stance, asserting that “it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He concluded that he “cannot in good conscience” support the war against Iran.
Donald Trump responded to this during a press conference, stating that he “always thought he [Kent] was weak on security.” The President added that if members of his administration do not view Iran as a threat, “we don’t want those people.” Since Kent’s resignation and subsequent statements, other senior officials have supported Trump but without implicating the system as well.
As of now, there is no official statement confirming whether Kent is or will be under FBI investigation.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
