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Senate Confirms Joe Kent as National Counterterrorism Center Director in Party-Line Vote

He plans to focus the agency on Latin American criminal networks under Trump’s wartime powers.

Joe Kent speaks at a campaign event on Oct. 5, 2022, in Morton, Washington.
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Overview

  • Kent brings 11 Green Beret deployments and CIA experience after two unsuccessful congressional campaigns in Washington state.
  • Democrats pointed to his refusal to reject conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and false claims of a stolen 2020 election.
  • Opponents cited his paid consulting for a Proud Boys member and collaboration with Patriot Prayer’s founder as evidence of extremist affiliations.
  • Sen. Tom Cotton lauded Kent’s counterterrorism record and military service as proof of his readiness to lead U.S. intelligence efforts.
  • As acting chief of staff to DNI Tulsi Gabbard, he directed analysts to revise assessments on Venezuelan gang ties to support the use of the Alien Enemies Act.