Joseph Kent, former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), is reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over allegations that he leaked classified information.
Gatekeepers News reports that the NCTC serves as the primary US government agency responsible for integrating and analysing terrorism-related intelligence gathered from federal departments and security bodies.
Kent resigned from his position on Tuesday, citing objections to the United States’ involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran. He said he could not support the war against Tehran in good conscience.
“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he said in a statement.
According to a report by Semafor, sources within the FBI disclosed that Kent is being probed over allegations that he improperly shared classified information.
One source said the investigation had been ongoing for months and began before Kent stepped down from his role.
Meanwhile, a separate report by The New York Times indicated that the probe emerged amid what it described as a coordinated effort by the administration of Donald Trump to portray Kent as untrustworthy and disloyal.
The developments come amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East. On February 28, Israel launched what it described as pre-emptive missile strikes on Iran. Shortly after the announcement, Trump said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the United States.
Since then, Iran has continued to exchange strikes and counterstrikes with US-Israel forces, further intensifying tensions in the region.
