Kash Patel says FBI was initially 'kept out' of Nancy Guthrie investigation

FBI Director Kash Patel criticized authorities in Arizona for their handling of the Nancy Guthrie case, telling Sean Hannity on a podcast that the sheriff’s office investigating her possible abduction sidelined the agency for days.“What we, the FBI, do is say, 'Hey, we’re here to help,'” Patel told Hannity on an episode of "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" released Tuesday.

FBI Director Kash Patel criticized authorities in Arizona for their handling of the Nancy Guthrie case, telling Sean Hannity on a podcast that the sheriff’s office investigating her possible abduction sidelined the agency for days.

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“What we, the FBI, do is say, 'Hey, we’re here to help,'” Patel told Hannity on an episode of "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" released Tuesday. “What do you need? What can we do? And for four days, we were kept out of the investigation.”

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos disputed those comments, saying in a statement Tuesday night that when he responded to the scene the night Guthrie disappeared, a member of the FBI Task Force had been notified and was present, working alongside local law enforcement.