Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) who resigned Tuesday in protest of the ongoing war with Iran, is currently the subject of an FBI investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the federal probe focuses on allegations that Kent improperly shared sensitive intelligence prior to his departure from the administration. The investigation has reportedly been active for several months, suggesting that federal authorities were monitoring Kent’s activities well before his public break with the Trump administration.
Neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice has issued an official comment regarding the scope of the inquiry.
Allegations of Suppressed Dissent
The investigation comes to light just 24 hours after Kent appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight, where he delivered a scathing critique of the administration’s decision-making process leading up to the February 28 strikes on Iranian targets.
Kent claimed that he and other senior security officials harboring doubts about the military intervention were systematically “not allowed” to brief President Trump.
“A good deal of key decision–makers were not allowed to come and express their opinion to the president,” Kent stated during the interview. “There wasn’t a robust debate.”
‘Israel Forced Trump’s Hand’
In his most controversial assertion, Kent alleged that the impetus for the war came from external pressure rather than internal U.S. intelligence. He argued that Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, successfully lobbied the President using information that U.S. intelligence agencies could not independently verify.
Key claims made by Kent include:
- Lack of Imminent Threat: Kent asserts there was no intelligence suggesting Iran was actively developing nuclear weapons or posed an immediate strike threat to the U.S.
- Diplomatic Pressure: He cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson as being influenced by Israeli strategic plans.
- Bypassing Channels: Kent alleged that Israeli narratives “didn’t reflect intelligence channels” typically used by the NCTC.
Administration and Public Reaction
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who oversaw Kent’s work at the NCTC, distanced the administration from his claims on Wednesday. Gabbard emphasized that the ultimate authority to determine national security threats rests solely with the President.
Meanwhile, Kent’s rhetoric has sparked immediate backlash. Jewish advocacy groups and several lawmakers have condemned his focus on an “Israeli lobby,” characterizing the remarks as leaning into antisemitic tropes.
As the FBI probe continues, the focus remains on whether Kent’s public disclosures—or private actions leading up to his resignation—violated the Espionage Act or other federal statutes governing the handling of national secrets.
