Joe Kent, Former Counterterrorism Chief, Under FBI Scrutiny for Alleged Information Leaks

The FBI has launched an investigation into Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, regarding alleged leaks of classified information, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

This inquiry commenced prior to Kent's resignation earlier this week, which he attributed to the Trump administration's approach to the conflict with Iran. The FBI's Criminal Division is overseeing the investigation, which has reportedly been ongoing for some time.

While the FBI has refrained from commenting on the matter, Kent has yet to respond to requests for his perspective.

Initial reports of the investigation surfaced through various channels.

Following Kent's resignation, Taylor Budowich, a former deputy White House chief of staff, hinted at the situation on social media, suggesting that Kent was frequently involved in national security leaks and accused him of attempting to undermine presidential authority. Specific details regarding the alleged leaks were not disclosed.

In an open letter announcing his departure, Kent criticized the decision to engage in military action against Iran, arguing that the nation did not present an immediate threat. He claimed that external pressures, particularly from Israel and its influential American supporters, influenced the decision to go to war.

"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Kent stated.

During a subsequent interview with Tucker Carlson, Kent elaborated on his stance, asserting that there was no credible intelligence indicating an imminent attack from Iran or evidence of a nuclear weapons program. He expressed concern over the lack of thorough debate prior to the war, attributing the decision-making process primarily to Israeli influence.

The Trump administration has strongly contested Kent's assertions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized his resignation letter as filled with inaccuracies, maintaining that Iran posed a significant threat to U.S. security and dismissing claims of foreign influence as "insulting and laughable."

Leavitt further minimized Kent's role, stating in a Fox News interview that he had not participated in key discussions regarding the Iran conflict and had not contributed to intelligence briefings for some time.

In response to suggestions that he was out of touch with critical discussions, Kent remarked during his interview with Carlson that he was aware of how meetings were conducted and implied that even if he wasn't formally invited, he would have been informed about their occurrence.

Kent, a Trump appointee confirmed by the Senate last summer, previously served as chief of staff to Tulsi Gabbard, a close ally in the intelligence community.

His past has not been without controversy; Kent has faced scrutiny for hiring a member of the far-right Proud Boys for consulting during his congressional campaign and has made headlines for claiming the 2020 election was stolen. He also suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci should face charges related to COVID-19.

When asked about Kent's recent actions, former President Trump remarked, "I always thought he was weak on security." He added that while he did not know Kent well personally, his resignation was ultimately beneficial given Kent's assertion that Iran was not a threat. "Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was," Trump concluded.