Todd Blanche reveals if FBI will take over Nancy Guthrie investigation amid ongoing search

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday, August 16, said that he does not believe it would be the best course of action for the FBI to take over the Nancy Guthrie investigation, but added that federal investigators are providing as much help as possible.

Nancy, the mother of 'TODAY' show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was first reported missing on February 1 in Tucson, Arizona.

FBI will continue supporting Nancy Guthrie investigation without taking over

Blanche made the remarks to host Kristen Welker six months after Nancy was last seen by her son-in-law, who dropped her off at her one-million-dollar Tucson home on January 31.

“We are working as hard as we can with the state and local law enforcement in every area, and that means not only providing assistance with manpower, but any sort of forensic assistance,” Blanche told NBC News’ 'Meet the Press'. 

He further added, “And so we’re going to continue to do that. Whether we come in with sharp elbows and take it over, that’s not necessarily the right thing to do for her or for anybody, but making sure that it’s done right and making sure that this investigation is being conducted the way that it should be is something that we’re doing.”

Scrutiny grows over local handling of Nancy Guthrie case

President Donald Trump spoke with Savannah in February, just days after her mother was reported missing, offering the family access to federal law enforcement resources. At the time, the 80-year-old wrote on Truth Social that he was directing “ALL Federal Law Enforcement” to assist the family and local authorities.

On Sunday, Blanche said he had no new information to share publicly about the investigation. He expressed regret over the lack of an update, acknowledging how heartbreaking the case has been, particularly given the intense national attention surrounding it.

The search has been led by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has faced criticism over alleged missteps, including claims from FBI Director Kash Patel that Nanos delayed the bureau's involvement.

Reports also say the department's surveillance plane was not deployed until late in the evening on the day Nancy went missing, and that detectives gave "little regard" to dried blood found on her front porch, as per the Daily Mail.