FBI Director Kash Patel criticized Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos on a Fox News podcast, claiming federal agents were excluded for four days after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Patel said early FBI involvement could have recovered evidence faster.

Nanos refuted the claim, noting that an FBI task force responded on February 1 and coordination began immediately. A deputy assistant agent appeared with Nanos at a news conference the same day, highlighting joint efforts.

The dispute underscores lingering tensions between local and federal agencies in a high‑profile kidnapping case that has drawn national attention. Nanos, already under scrutiny for past misconduct investigations, faces potential board action amid the controversy.

Patel’s remarks may prompt a deeper federal review of Nanos’s leadership, potentially reshaping oversight of the sheriff’s department and affecting future collaboration with the FBI.