The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into Joe Kent, a former counterterrorism official under President Donald Trump, following allegations that he disclosed classified information.
According to sources cited by CBS News, the investigation—being handled by the FBI’s criminal division—was initiated prior to Kent’s resignation earlier this week as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The agency has not issued an official statement, and Kent has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
Kent stepped down from his role on Tuesday, attributing his decision to disagreements over 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 claimed that pressure from Israel and its allies influenced the push toward military action—an assertion the White House strongly denied.
Following his exit, Trump ally Taylor Budowich accused Kent of frequently being linked to national security leaks and attempting to bypass established chains of command, though no specific evidence was provided.
The situation escalated after Kent made a series of public statements, including during an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson, where he reiterated claims that Israel played a central role in encouraging US military action against Iran. He also maintained there was no intelligence indicating an imminent Iranian attack and questioned the decision-making process behind the strikes.
Kent further alleged that some senior officials had restricted access to President Trump ahead of the conflict, limiting broader internal debate. Despite his criticisms, he described his post-resignation conversation with Trump as cordial, noting that both parted on good terms.
In response, the White House dismissed Kent’s claims, insisting that the president acted on credible intelligence indicating that Iran was preparing to strike. Trump later described Kent as a “nice guy” but defended his removal, saying it was appropriate and criticizing him as weak on national security.
Kent, a longtime Trump ally who made two unsuccessful bids for Congress, was nominated early in the administration and confirmed as head of the National Counterterrorism Center in July 2025.
The investigation adds a new dimension to the fallout surrounding Kent’s resignation, raising concerns about internal divisions within the administration and the safeguarding of sensitive national security information.
