FBI Probes Joe Kent Over Possible Intelligence Leak After Iran War Resignation

The FBI has launched a leak investigation into former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, focusing on allegations that he improperly shared classified information with unauthorized individuals.

According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter, the investigation began months before Kent's dramatic resignation on March 17, 2026, and predates his departure from the Trump administration.

ABC media

Semafor reported that four people 'with direct knowledge' confirmed the investigation was already underway during Kent's tenure at the agency.

The New York Times noted that the inquiry 'predated his resignation this week as the top U.S. counterterrorism official.'

Forbes corroborated this timeline, stating the probe 'began before Kent announced his resignation, with unnamed sources telling the outlet it had been underway for several months.'

The FBI's Criminal Division is reportedly overseeing the investigation, with Axios citing an unnamed source who said Kent was suspected of leaking information to Tucker Carlson and 'another conservative podcaster.'

This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Trump administration's handling of classified information and its treatment of officials who have criticized or antagonized Trump.

Joe Kent's explosive resignation came as a dramatic public protest against the Trump administration's war with Iran, in which he accused President Trump of initiating the conflict due to 'pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'

In his resignation letter posted on X, Kent wrote that 'Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation' and claimed the administration had been deceived by a 'misinformation campaign' orchestrated by 'high-ranking Israeli officials and influential American journalists.'

Al-Jazeera Net

The former Green Beret and CIA paramilitary officer, who served 11 combat deployments and lost his wife Shannon to a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019, framed his departure as a moral imperative.

Kent stated that 'as a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people.'

His resignation represented the first high-level break from the administration over the Iran conflict, which has now entered its third week with approximately 13 U.S. soldiers killed and more than 1,450 people dead overall, according to NDTV Profit.

The Trump administration responded swiftly and forcefully to Kent's resignation and allegations, with President Trump dismissing him as 'very weak on security' and calling his departure 'a good thing.'

“In response to these criticisms, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt asserted that there are 'false claims' in the circulating rhetoric”

Al-Jazeera Net

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to denounce Kent's claims as 'false' and 'insulting,' insisting that 'President Trump had strong and compelling evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States first' and would 'never make the decision to deploy military assets against a foreign adversary in a vacuum.'

However, critics and Democratic lawmakers have expressed support for Kent's concerns about the war's justification.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that 'on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.'

Meanwhile, Kent's past political associations and controversial statements have come under renewed scrutiny, with reports of his connections to far-right figures like Nick Fuentes and his refusal to distance himself from conspiracy theories about the January 6th Capitol attack and the 2020 election results.

Kent's resignation and the subsequent FBI investigation have significant implications for the Trump administration's intelligence apparatus and the broader political landscape.

As Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent was responsible for analyzing terrorist threats and coordinating counterterrorism intelligence, making his departure and the legal scrutiny particularly noteworthy.

Al-Monitor

The Sunday Guardian notes that his sudden resignation 'has drawn global attention amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict' and raises 'broader questions about how intelligence is used in shaping military decisions, especially during high-stakes geopolitical conflicts.'

The Hill highlights that Kent's perspective may reflect 'a broader sentiment within the Trump coalition,' as 'anti-Israel views — and antisemitism — appear to be on the rise, particularly with the younger generation and the influencer class, which could dampen support on the right for the war.'

Meanwhile, The Independent observes that the FBI has 'targeted multiple individuals who have criticized or antagonized Trump with criminal investigations—including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, Former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James,' suggesting a pattern of using legal action against political opponents.