FBI Has Been Investigating Joe Kent for Months Over Classified Leak Allegations – RedState

Joe Kent has left a top US intelligence post, accusing allies and insiders of dragging the country into war with Iran. Now, new reports suggest he has been under federal investigation for months.

The former director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) did not quietly resign. He sparked a fight on his way out, publicly breaking with the administration and accusing key players of pushing the United States into a conflict that he said should never have happened.

In his resignation, Kent made clear that this was not a political disagreement. It was a fundamental break with the war.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran poses no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”

That would have been enough to shake Washington. The fact that the NCTC intelligence chief is accusing both foreign allies and domestic political actors of directing U.S. military action is not typical dissent. This is a direct attack on the credibility of the intelligence and political apparatus of which he was a part.

Kent didn’t stop there. In his official letter, he intensified his accusations, arguing that the president himself had been misled before the conflict.

“Senior Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a disinformation campaign that completely undermined your America First agenda… to make you believe that Iran posed an imminent threat… It was a lie. »

This assertion now comes up against something much more serious. According to Semafor, which first reported the investigation, federal authorities are examining Kent for possible unauthorized disclosures related to sensitive information.

The investigation predates Kent’s resignation and has been ongoing for months, according to people familiar with the matter.

“The investigation into former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent focuses on allegations that he inappropriately shared classified information.”

Four people with direct knowledge of the investigation described the investigation as ongoing and linked to concerns about the handling of classified documents.

The investigation was already underway before Kent’s resignation, disputing any claims that the review was a purely political consequence.

Within the administration, the reaction to Kent’s resignation was brutal. President Donald Trump showed little sympathy for Kent’s departure, calling it a positive as the fallout began to be felt.

Learn more: Top aide to Tulsi Gabbard resigns in explosive letter, blames Israel for ‘war on Iran’

Trump responds to Kent’s resignation: ‘It’s a good thing he’s out’

At the same time, the administration directly opposed Kent’s account, rejecting his claims about the origins of the Iran conflict and accusing him of echoing familiar political arguments.

Officials have argued that Kent’s claims misrepresent both the intelligence situation and the policy decisions that led to the conflict, dismissing his accusations as inaccurate and politically charged.

This back-and-forth is taking place in the shadow of a federal investigation, raising the stakes well beyond a typical Washington dispute. Kent is no longer just a former civil servant airing grievances. He is a former intelligence official whose actions have been and are being scrutinized for possible legal and national security implications.

A top counterterrorism official resigns, accuses the system of bringing the country to war, and amid all this, it appears he was (and is) under investigation by the FBI for alleged leaks of classified information long before his resignation.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to RedState for updates.

Editor’s note: For decades, former presidents did nothing but talk. Now, Donald Trump eliminates the Iranian threat once and for all.

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