Former top US counterterrorism official denies improper sharing of classified intel

Joe Kent, right, looks on during a Washington 3rd District debate at KATU studios, October 7, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Joe Kent, right, looks on during a Washington 3rd District debate at KATU studios, October 7, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Joe Kent, the former counterterrorism director who resigned this week in protest of the Iran war, denies allegations that he improperly shared classified information.

The Associated Press reported that the FBI is investigating whether Kent leaked such information, citing someone familiar with the matter. The person said the investigation preceded his resignation on Tuesday. No additional details were available.

“As for the leak allegations, I’m not concerned because I know I did nothing wrong,” Kent says on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show.” He suggests he was targeted because he spoke out.

“I am concerned because we’ve all seen the FBI and the full weight of the government come down on individuals who speak out,” Kent says.

The Justice Department has undertaken several probes into perceived political foes of US President Donald Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey, although prosecutors have struggled to make charges stick.

Kent, the director of the US government’s National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down Tuesday, saying he “cannot in good conscience” support the Trump administration’s war in Iran.

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