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

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

Kent resigned Tuesday after publicly splitting with President Donald Trump over the war in Iran, writing in his resignation letter that Tehran “does not pose an imminent threat” to the United States.

Two sources with knowledge of the matter told Fox News that the FBI investigation into Kent had been ongoing for weeks before his departure.

FBI leak investigations are often conducted tightly in the early stages to prevent the matter from being exposed. However, the fact that the investigation into Kent was ongoing weeks before his resignation and the director of national intelligence was not aware of it raises questions about why the country’s most senior intelligence official was not informed.

GABBARD MISSED IRAN’S “IMPOSSIBLE THREAT” CLAIM TO THE SENATE

The lack of awareness also raises questions about how decisions regarding Kent’s access to sensitive information were managed in the weeks leading up to his resignation; administration officials said Kent was excluded from planning meetings for the current Iran mission, known as Operation Epic Rage, as well as from the president’s daily briefings.

A senior administration official called Kent a “known leaker” and said Gabbard was asked to fire Kent but 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 with 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 splitting with President Donald Trump over the war in Iran, writing in his resignation letter that Tehran does not pose an “imminent threat” to the United States. (Joe Kent’s campaign)

As director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent often oversaw the integration and analysis of intelligence on terrorist threats; it was a mission that often involved access to some of the government’s most sensitive information. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

AFTER FBI

As director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent often oversaw the integration and analysis of intelligence on terrorist threats; it was a mission that often involved access to some of the government’s most sensitive information.

In a series of recent congressional hearings, Gabbard was pressed about Kent’s allegations.

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During a recent conversation 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 him, he gave a one-word answer: “Yes.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Gabbard, Kent and the FBI for comment.

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.