Joe Kent Denies Leaking Classified Information in Fiery Mark Levin Interview
Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center who resigned last week in protest against the Iran war, has firmly denied allegations of leaking sensitive information during a heated and often adversarial interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin.
Resignation and Allegations
Kent, a former Green Beret and CIA operator, stepped down by issuing a scathing open letter to President Donald Trump. In the letter, he insisted that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and alleged that Israel had dictated American involvement in the conflict. Following his resignation, it was reported that Kent is under federal investigation for allegedly mishandling classified information, a claim he had already denied in a previous interview with Megyn Kelly, calling it part of the Trump administration's "playbook."
When Levin raised the issue on his radio show, Kent responded, "I never leaked any classified information. And the stories you're reading are stories from leakers who are leaking, I guess, maybe, an investigation about me being a leaker. So I think it's just a media counter-narrative." He also denied ever being contacted by the FBI or the Department of Justice regarding the matter.
Tulsi Gabbard's Stance on Iran
Pressed by Levin on whether his former boss, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, shared his hostility to the war, given her previous opposition to attacking Iran, Kent answered simply, "You'd have to ask her. I'm not going to speak for Tulsi Gabbard." This response highlighted the ongoing tensions within the administration over foreign policy decisions.
Testy Exchange and Accusations
Elsewhere in their conversation, Levin challenged Kent on the timing of his resignation and accused him of living in an anti-war "echo chamber." Kent reacted by alleging that Levin had lobbied Trump to launch strikes against Tehran, prompting a sharp retort from the host.
"Hey, hey! Pay attention to me!" Levin snapped. "I never lobbied the president. You guys keep putting that crap out there. I met with the president once at his request. And I said to the president – you ready for this, Joe? – I said, 'They're saying out there that I'm lobbying you.' You know what he did? He laughed. You know what he said? 'Mark. I know where you stand. I watch your show on Saturday and Sunday.'"
Kent then argued that Levin had used "the power of your show" to influence Trump, which the presenter rejected as "absolutely ridiculous."
Conspiracy Claims and Israeli Influence
In a wild and often contentious encounter, Levin called Kent "extremely conspiratorial" over his claims of excessive Israeli influence over the Trump administration. Levin questioned, "Did the intelligence agencies miss 9/11, or was that the Israelis too? Did they miss Pearl Harbor, or was that the Israelis too? I'm really worried about you, brother. I really am. When you were first on my show, you seemed pretty straightforward and sane about this stuff."
Kent countered, "I am pretty straightforward. I don't think a foreign government should be allowed to dictate when we go to war." Levin replied, "I don't think they did. I think the president made the decision. You keep mentioning Israelis – it's getting very boring and silly. The president made the decision."
Broader Conservative Tensions
Kent's resignation has further inflamed existing tensions among conservatives over the war. In his resignation letter, he told the president, "I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards."
This interview adds to a series of public feuds involving Levin, who was previously embroiled in a multi-part dispute with Megyn Kelly, where personal insults were exchanged, cheered on by figures like former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
