Backlash grows against police in Nancy Guthrie case after suspension revelation
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has headed the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance from her Arizona home since day one
Backlash has been steadily building against the lead investigator in the case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on February 1, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos coming under fire for past disciplinary issues as the investigation approaches its 12th week.
The sheriff's history at the El Paso Police Department in Texas has drawn criticism as he resigned from his position in 1982 in order to avoid disciplinary action. He addressed the allegations that he misrepresented himself when applying for a job at the Pima County Police Department in the '80s, after leaving his job in Texas.
Chris' lawyer responded to the probe into his past with a 22-page document that explained his conduct. "Sheriff Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982. At the time of his resignation, he held the rank of corporal," the document read.
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Sheriff Chris Nanos has come under fire in recent weeks
"His resignation came in the wake of a dispute with a supervisor over the towing of vehicles. The supervisor wanted to impose a three-day suspension for insubordination. Sheriff Nanos appealed that recommended discipline to the Chief, who found in favor of the supervisor."
"Rather than accept a three-day suspension, Sheriff Nanos offered to resign in lieu of discipline. The Chief accepted his offer, and Sheriff Nanos resigned," he continued. The document added that he had not lied about his employment history, and wrote on his resume that he left the job in 1982, despite the Pima County Sheriff's Department website stating that he left in 1984.
Chris' lawyer also acknowledged the disciplinary actions he was subject to at El Paso, including "counselling, reprimands and suspensions". The letter then spoke on the sheriff's previous statement under oath that he had never been suspended as a result of disciplinary action.
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The sheriff has lead the Nancy Guthrie investigation since day one
"It is 100% correct that Sheriff Nanos was never suspended during his four decades of decorated and faithful service with the Pima County Sheriff's Department," his lawyer wrote to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
"However, Sheriff Nanos was suspended more than forty years ago while employed by [the] El Paso Police Department. In the context of his live deposition, Sheriff Nanos did not understand the question related to discipline with a different agency not governed by the Arizona Peace Officers' Bill of Rights."
Social media users quickly shared their distaste for the sheriff after his past in El Paso came to light. "Everyone wants him gone," wrote one X user, while another added that "people are angry". A third chimed in that Chris had "botched this [case] from the start," while a fourth added: "My gut is telling me it was totally mishandled."
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Chris faced backlash from social media users
Chris did garner support from some social media users, with one writing: "Wasn't this decades ago? [In my opinion] he is working hard to find Nancy Guthrie," while another added that the focus on his past was "fueling a dishonest narrative" about Chris' competency.
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Nancy went missing from her Arizona home in February
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has worked closely with the FBI since Nancy went missing in February. While several suspects have been questioned regarding her disappearance, no arrests have been made, and DNA evidence is still being examined by the authorities.
Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, was believed to have been taken by force from her home in Tucson, Arizona, after blood was found on the doorstep, and her personal effects were found inside the house.
BUCKLE UP — Trump Arrests the One Person Liberals Warned Him to Never Touch
BUCKLE UP — Trump Arrests the One Person Liberals Warned Him to Never Touch
Two Chinese nationals have been charged with acting as agents of the People’s Republic of China’s government
Accused of gathering intelligence on U.S. Navy personnel and bases while recruiting other military members to work for China’s primary foreign intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The Department of Justice announced that Yuance Chen, a resident of Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren Lai, who entered Houston on a tourist visa in April 2025, were arrested. Both face charges related to conducting covert intelligence operations in the U.S. on behalf of the MSS.
In addition to recruiting potential MSS assets and collecting sensitive information on service members and military installations, the two men are also accused of facilitating a “dead drop” cash payment on behalf of the MSS.
The FBI arrested Chen in Happy Valley and Lai in Houston, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
“Today’s arrests reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our national security and safeguarding the integrity of our military,” FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News.
“The individuals charged were acting on behalf of a hostile foreign intelligence service — part of the Chinese Communist Party’s broader effort to infiltrate and undermine our institutions,” he continued.
“Thanks to outstanding coordination with our partners, including NCIS, we disrupted those efforts and sent a clear message: the United States will not tolerate espionage on American soil. Our counterintelligence operations remain focused, vigilant, and relentless,” he added.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of California, the DOJ stated that the government of the People’s Republic of China conducts intelligence operations against the U.S. through various channels, including the MSS, which handles intelligence gathering on civilians as well as foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and political security.
The complaint further alleges that Lai recruited Chen to serve the MSS in 2021, Fox reported.
In January 2022, the two men were in Guangzhou, China, where they reportedly coordinated a dead-drop payment of at least $10,000 on behalf of the MSS. The operation involved collaborating with accomplices in the U.S. to stash a backpack containing the cash in a day-use locker in Livermore, Calif., Fox continued.
After the cash drop, Lai and Chen continued their work for the MSS, assisting in identifying Navy personnel who might be willing to collaborate with the agency.
The DOJ reported that in 2022 and 2023, the two visited a U.S. Naval facility in Washington State and a Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California.
At the recruitment center, Chen allegedly photographed a bulletin board displaying the names, programs, and hometowns of Navy recruits. Most of those listed had “China” noted as their hometown, and the DOJ claims the photos were transmitted to an MSS intelligence officer in China, the Fox report continued.
The DOJ also alleged that the MSS instructed Chen on what to say to potential recruits regarding payments, preferred Navy job assignments, and ways to reduce the risk of Chen being exposed.
According to the complaint, Chen eventually communicated with a Navy member via social media and arranged a tour of the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego with that individual. Chen reportedly sent information about the Navy employee back to the MSS.
The complaint further alleges that Chen traveled to Guangzhou in April 2024 and March 2025 to meet with MSS intelligence officers and discuss compensation for specific assignments, Fox said.
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Lai allegedly traveled to Houston in April 2025, stating that the trip was for his online retail business and that he planned to stay for two weeks.
Both Chen and Lai have been charged with acting as agents of a foreign government in the U.S. without notifying the Attorney General. If convicted, they face fines of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
