FBI investigating Joe Kent over leaked classified information before resignation: report

The news of the probe came a day after Joe Kent resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center

Published: March 19, 2026 8:22am

The FBI is reportedly investigating Joe Kent for allegedly leaking classified information, which began before he resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

The unconfirmed probe was first reported Wednesday by NewsNation, based on an anonymous source.

The FBI declined to comment to The Hill news outlet regarding the investigation.

In his resignation letter, Kent said he was leaving the Trump administration over the president's war with Iran, arguing that the country did not pose an imminent threat to the U.S., and urging a change of course regarding the Middle East conflict.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Kent’s resignation comments “insulting and laughable.”

President Trump said Tuesday about Kent: “I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak. When I read his statement, I realized it’s a good thing that he’s out, because he said Iran is not a threat.”

Kent told podcaster Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night: "The Israelis drove the decision to take this action. Which we knew would set off a series of events, meaning the Iranians would retaliate.”

Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other top U.S. officials have argued that striking Iran was necessary because the country posed an imminent threat to American national security.

“That just simply did not exist,” Kent told Carlson.

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