FBI Investigates Joe Kent Over Alleged Classified Leaks

The FBI is currently looking into Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), who recently stepped down in what he described as a protest against the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. Multiple sources indicate that he’s accused of leaking classified information.

Interestingly, the FBI’s inquiry into Kent had started before he submitted his resignation. Sources noted that the investigation had been active for several months and wasn’t a hurried response to his resignation letter.

Reports from Axios reveal that Kent was well-known within government circles as a “known leaker” prior to his exit. This reputation apparently led to him being excluded from critical presidential meetings and discussions surrounding Iran.

Kent announced his resignation from the NCTC on a Tuesday, citing the military operations against Iran as a primary reason. He described the situation as “unconscientious” and articulated concerns regarding the legitimacy of the conflict.

In his resignation letter, he asserted that Iran was “not an imminent threat” and insinuated that U.S. action was heavily influenced by Israeli pressure.

“After much consideration, I have decided to resign as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today,” Kent stated. “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.”

Officials from the Trump administration quickly dismissed Kent’s claims, deeming them unfounded as he had been kept out of high-level Iranian intelligence briefings for some time.

Despite this, Kent argued that, as the head of the NCTC, he should have been the primary agency evaluating the strategic details regarding potential strikes. His analysts found no solid evidence to justify the military conflict, labeling it a “misinformation campaign” likely fueled by foreign lobbying. He also suggested that his exclusion from significant meetings was a tactic to stifle dissent.

The White House maintained that the reason Kent was not included in discussions was due to his ongoing FBI investigation. They characterized the intelligence protocols as sensitive enough to restrict access based on a “need-to-know” policy, deeming Kent untrustworthy.

According to additional sources, the FBI’s investigation had been underway well before Kent’s resignation. They reiterated that he was barred from presidential meetings due to his reputation as a “known leaker.”

“He has left a substantial documentary trail online and has been under surveillance for months,” an insider disclosed. “He’ll likely assert that this is retaliation for resigning, but that’s not the case; he was already under scrutiny.”

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt stated that Kent’s resignation letter included several “false claims” and dismissed his theory that Trump had been coerced by foreign powers into escalating the conflict as absurd.

Levitt noted that Kent was not involved in discussing matters before or after the military operation dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” and had not participated in presidential intelligence briefings in quite some time.

Later in the day, Kent participated in a lengthy interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson, who has expressed skepticism towards the administration’s alignment with Israel. Kent countered Levitt’s assertions during this conversation.

“I’m sure the government will say, ‘No, you just weren’t invited,’ but I know how these meetings unfold. Even if I wasn’t present, I would still be aware of their occurrence,” he stated.

However, Kent has yet to provide concrete evidence to back up his allegations. His “evidence” mainly comprises personal theories and circumstantial data he presented during his chat with Carlson. He even claimed that the late Ayatollah Khamenei was supposedly taking steps to moderate Iran’s nuclear ambitions to avert an all-out conflict.

“Joe Kent was right. Therefore, Joe Kent must be destroyed,” Carlson remarked, appearing to position Kent as a martyr. “There are indeed ongoing efforts to discredit Joe Kent as a so-called Islamist pawn or leaker.”

In the wake of his resignation, President Trump articulated that Kent’s departure was beneficial, noting, “When I read his statement, I realized it was a good thing for him to resign because he said Iran was not a threat.”

Trump added that “nations have now realized what a threat Iran is,” alluding to countries that have rallied in support of U.S. and Israeli military efforts aimed at destabilizing Iran’s regime.

Initially, Britain and Spain hesitated to permit the use of military bases, but following an Iranian strike on a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, Britain reversed course and allowed the U.S. to utilize specific bases to retaliate against missile threats.

The Muslim community constitutes approximately 6.7% of England’s total population, with about 15% of London identifying as Muslim. Some analysts suggest this demographic may have made Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially wary of backing Operation Epic Fury.

On a regional level, Jordan has become a significant operational hub during the conflict, with U.S. F-16CJ jets redeployed from Italy to conduct air defense missions. Additionally, Gulf states like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain are working to reinforce defense coordination through U.S.-integrated air support to counter Iranian drone and missile attacks.

Support for logistics and intelligence continues to grow through the Five Eyes alliance and key European bases like Germany’s Ramstein Air Base.