Joe Kent, former counterterrorism official who resigned over Iran war, under investigation, AP source says
Ex-Trump official Joe Kent under FBI investigation
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is being investigated by the FBI over allegations that he leaked classified information, according to FOX News and Semafor’s Shelby Talcott. Kent resigned from his role on March 17th over disagreements about the Iran war. Kent stated in his resignation letter that he thought Iran posed no imminent threat. The investigation reportedly pre-dates Kent’s resignation, according to FOX News and Talcott.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether Joe Kent, who resigned from his position as a counterterrorism official earlier this week in protest of the war in Iran, improperly shared classified information, a source told The Associated Press.
The investigation comes just days after Kent resigned from his role as director of the U.S. government’s National Counterterrorism Center.
Additional details about the investigation were not immediately shared.
FILE - Joseph Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), testifies during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing titled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Dec. 11, 2025. (Photo by SAUL L
Joe Kent resigns
The backstory:
The veteran shared that while he supported President Donald Trump’s values and foreign policies, he claimed Trump was recently "deceived" by Israel into believing that Iran posed a threat to the United States.
Top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns over Iran war
Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and saying he "cannot in good conscience" back the Trump administration’s war. "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," Kent said in a statement posted on social media.
What they're saying:
"This 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. We cannot make this mistake again," Kent said.
"As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my belived 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 nor justifies the cost of American lives."
Trump responds to Kent’s resignation
The other side:
The president told reporters on Tuesday that he thought Kent was a "nice guy" but "always thought" he was "very weak on security."
Other Trump administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, have since sought to distance themselves from Kent and his assessment.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX.