White House complained about ‘known leaker’ but Gabbard never fired him, official says

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not know that former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent was under investigation by the FBI for allegedly leaking classified information before his resignation, a senior intelligence official told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

Kent resigned Tuesday after publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, writing in his resignation letter that Tehran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States.

Two sources briefed on the matter told Fox News that the FBI investigation into Kent had been underway for weeks before his departure.

FBI investigations into leaks are often very tight from the start to avoid exposing the subject. But the fact that the investigation into Kent had been underway for weeks before his resignation — and that the director of national intelligence was unaware of it — raises questions about why the nation’s top intelligence official was not briefed.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was unaware that former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent was under investigation by the FBI for allegedly leaking classified information before his resignation, a senior intelligence official told Fox News Digital. (PA)

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That lack of awareness also raises questions about how decisions about Kent’s access to sensitive information were handled in the weeks before his resignation, as administration officials said he was excluded from planning meetings related to the current mission in Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, as well as the president’s daily briefings.

A senior administration official described Kent as a “known leaker” and said Gabbard was asked to fire Kent and did not do so.

Another official said the White House complained to Gabbard about Kent but did not ask her to fire him.

An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said the president never asked Gabbard to fire Kent or she would have done so.

Joe Kent resigned Tuesday after publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, writing in his resignation letter that Tehran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States. (Joe Kent campaign)

As director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent would typically oversee the integration and analysis of intelligence related to terrorist threats, a role that typically involves access to some of the government’s most sensitive information. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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As director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent would typically oversee the integration and analysis of intelligence related to terrorist threats, a role that typically involves access to some of the government’s most sensitive information.

During a series of recent congressional hearings, Gabbard pressed Kent’s claims.

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In a recent exchange with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Gabbard was asked if she agreed with Kent’s resignation statement after Stefanik read parts of it aloud. “He said a lot of things in that letter,” Gabbard responded, adding that the president “makes his own decisions based on the information he has.”

When asked if Kent’s comments concerned her, she responded with one word: “Yes.”

Fox News Digital has contacted Gabbard, Kent and the FBI for comment.

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.