Sheriff in the Nancy Guthrie Case, a Democrat, Has Been Tussling With Right-Wing Media

Hollywood Reporter

by Anthony Maglio

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County is navigating a high-profile investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother, while also dealing with criticism from right-wing media outlets like Newsmax and NewsNation. Nanos has been leading the joint FBI investigation since it began 19 days ago but has faced scrutiny for his communication strategies. Instead of holding press conferences, he has opted for one-on-one interviews with select journalists, including a recent session with Newsmax reporter John Huddy. These encounters have turned into confrontations as Nanos defends his office against claims that he is obstructing the FBI or mishandling the investigation. Nanos' decision to engage directly with individual reporters stems from a prior press conference with the FBI that did not go smoothly. He has since criticized right-wing outlets for spreading false narratives, including allegations of friction between his office and the FBI. During his interview with Huddy, Nanos denied these claims, calling them baseless. However, his approach has been seen as defensive and at times counterproductive, especially when he interjected political remarks despite dismissing such tactics as unhelpful. The case has drawn significant media attention, with outlets like TMZ receiving leaked information before the sheriff's office. This deluge of tips, many of which are false or scams, adds to the pressure on Nanos' team

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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 2/19/2026