Kash Patel ignores Nancy Guthrie kidnapping question

FBI Director Kash Patel declined to handle questions surrounding the kidnapping investigation of Nancy Guthrie.

Patel, 46, appeared at a press convention alongside Acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche and other federal officers on Wednesday, August 5. The event centered on 5 indictments filed against senior members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a Mexican felony group. As Patel and other officers made their method from the podium, a reporter called out asking for any updates on the case of TODAY host Savannah Guthrie’s mom.

Patel continued strolling without providing any response. The FBI has been collaborating with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in the seek for Nancy, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office has launched the full ransom notes acquired in early February.

Two ransom notes allegedly from Nancy’s captor have been dispatched to local station KOLD 13 News and TMZ on February 2 and February 6.

The first notice demanded $4 million in Bitcoin for her secure return, threatening to lift the sum to $6 million if the deadline was not honored. It also said that Nancy was “safe but scared.”

The second notice claimed that Nancy had “perished” from what they consider was a “heart-related” drawback and apologized to the household.

The 84-year-old vanished from her residence in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1, having last been seen the earlier day after being dropped off following a household dinner. The investigation has now stretched into its sixth month, with authorities still unable to determine any suspects.

The dealing with of the case has drawn vital criticism, notably directed at the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and its Sheriff, Chris Nanos.

In May, Patel took intention at local authorities during an look on Hang Out With Sean Hannity, alleging that they delayed bringing in the federal company to help with Nancy’s disappearance. During the podcast, Patel claimed that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department didn’t contact the FBI promptly.

“What we, the FBI, do is say, ‘Hey, we’re here to help. What do you need? What can we do?’ And for four days, we were kept out of the investigation,” Patel told Hannity.

Patel additional raised considerations over how proof was managed throughout the case. Sheriff Nanos responded to Patel’s comments in an announcement posted on X (previously Twitter) on May 5.

The sheriff said that he personally responded to the scene on the night time of the incident, and that a member of the FBI Task Force was also notified and current, together with their personnel.

Nanos wrote, “The FBI was promptly notified by both our department and the Guthrie family. While the FBI Director was not on scene, coordination with the Bureau began without delay.”

He explained that decisions concerning proof dealing with have been decided on-site “based on operational needs.”

Nanos famous that the laboratory, utilized by each the sheriff’s division and the FBI lab, “have worked in close partnership from the outset and contiue to collaborate in the analysis of evdience.”

Nanos wrapped up by saying they are going to “continue working closely with out federal partners as the process moves forward.”