FBI investigating whether departed U.S. counterterrorism official Joe Kent leaked classified info

FBI probes whether ex-counterterrorism official Joe Kent leaked classified info amid ongoing DOJ investigations into Trump critics.

The FBI is investigating whether Joe Kent, who resigned his position as a top U.S. counterterrorism official this week in protest of the Iran war, improperly shared classified information, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).

The investigation precedes Mr. Kent's resignation on Tuesday from his role as director of the U.S. government's National Counterterrorism Centre, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing FBI inquiry.

But it comes as the Justice Department has undertaken multiple investigations over the last year into political foes of President Donald Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Prosecutors have repeatedly struggled to make charges stick amid rejections from judges or to secure indictments in the first place.

Additional details about what the investigation, which was first reported by Semafor, is examining were not immediately available.

Mr. Kent disclosed his departure from the administration in a statement on X in which he cited his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and said he “cannot in good conscience” back the war against Iran.