The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into Joe Kent, a former top counterterrorism official under President Donald Trump, over allegations that he leaked classified information.
According to sources cited by CBS News, the probe—being handled by the FBI’s criminal division—began prior to Kent’s resignation earlier this week as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The FBI has declined to comment publicly on the matter, while Kent has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
Kent stepped down from his position on Tuesday, citing opposition to the United States’ involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran. In his resignation letter, he argued that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the US and suggested that the war had been driven by pressure from Israel and its allies—claims swiftly rejected by the White House.
Shortly after his departure, Taylor Budowich accused Kent of being “often at the centre of national security leaks” and of attempting to undermine the chain of command, though he did not provide specific details.
The controversy deepened following Kent’s public comments, including an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson, in which he reiterated claims that Israel played a leading role in pushing for military action against Iran. He also maintained that there was no intelligence indicating an imminent Iranian attack on the United States and questioned the decision-making process that led to the strikes.
Kent further alleged that key government officials had limited access to President Trump in the lead-up to the conflict, resulting in what he described as a lack of “robust debate” before military action was taken. Despite his criticisms, he said his conversation with Trump following his resignation was cordial, adding that they parted “on good terms”.
In response, the White House dismissed Kent’s assertions, insisting that the president acted on “compelling evidence” that Iran was preparing to strike first. President Trump later described Kent as a “nice guy” but defended his removal, stating it was “a good thing” he was no longer in government and criticising him as “very weak on security”.
Kent, a longtime ally of Trump who unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice, was nominated early in the administration and confirmed as head of the National Counterterrorism Center in July 2025.
The investigation marks a significant development in the fallout from Kent’s resignation, raising fresh questions about internal divisions within the administration and the handling of sensitive national security information.
Melissa Enoch
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