Month: February 2026

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of ‘TODAY’ co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, intensified Thursday as investigators released a clearer sequence of events from the night she vanished and confirmed that federal authorities are now fully involved. The case, now in its fifth day, has drawn nationwide attention, though officials say no suspect or person of interest has been identified.

Throughout the investigation, officials have stressed they are operating under the belief that Guthrie is alive. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said: “Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there We want her home … The community is hurting with you. We really just want mom back.”

According to timeline events leading up to her disappearance, Nancy Guthrie left her home Saturday evening around 5:32 p.m. to have dinner with family. She traveled by Uber to her daughter’s house, and investigators have since spoken with the driver, though details of that conversation have not been disclosed. She returned home at approximately 9:48 p.m., when her garage door opened and then closed two minutes later.

Several unexplained events occurred early Sunday morning. Sheriff Nanos said that at about 1:47 a.m., the doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home went offline. Roughly 25 minutes later, the system logged motion classified as a person, but no footage is available. Nanos noted it is unclear whether that detection involved a human or an animal. At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone.  Family members grew alarmed when Guthrie failed to attend church Sunday morning. They went to her home at 11:56 a.m., contacted 911 at 12:03 p.m., and deputies arrived shortly after, at 12:15 p.m., officially launching the missing person investigation.

Authorities later confirmed that blood discovered on the porch outside Guthrie’s home matched her DNA. Investigators have not said whether there were signs of forced entry or damage to security equipment and emphasized that all possibilities remain under review. Sheriff Nanos said the disappearance may not necessarily involve a kidnapping, but investigators are treating the case as suspicious and examining every angle.

The FBI announced it is now working jointly with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery or to “the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.” FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said agents and technical experts have been deployed to assist local authorities, including teams analyzing digital records from banks, phone providers, social media platforms, and home security systems. Investigators are also reviewing reports of ransom notes that reference Guthrie and were sent to multiple media outlets. Janke confirmed one note demanded money by 5 p.m. Thursday, with a second deadline mentioned for Monday. Authorities have not verified the legitimacy of the notes, and no proof of life has been provided.

An arrest has already been made in connection with what officials described as an “imposter” ransom demand. Addressing those attempting to exploit the case, Janke said, “To those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation: We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.” He added that any decisions regarding ransom communication ultimately rest with the family.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings also made an emotional public appeal in a video message, speaking directly to whoever may be involved: “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.” Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, said, “Mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home, we miss you,” and their brother, Charles Camron Guthrie, added: “We love you, Mom, stay strong, come home.”  

President Trump has also offered support for the Guthries, stating on social media that he spoke with Savannah Guthrie personally. He wrote: “I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!”

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke issued a direct appeal to anyone responsible for Guthrie’s disappearance, urging them to “do the right thing” and return her safely. Investigators continue to ask anyone with information to call 911 or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.

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Federal authorities arrested Kyle Wagner, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, on Thursday on charges of cyberstalking and transmitting threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to prosecutors.

The criminal complaint was filed Tuesday and unsealed Thursday, with a decision on whether to seek a grand jury indictment expected soon. No attorney has yet been listed for Wagner in court records.

Prosecutors allege Wagner used Facebook and Instagram throughout January to incite violence against federal immigration officers during heightened enforcement operations in Minnesota. According to the complaint, he encouraged followers to confront and assault agents, repeatedly referring to them as “gestapo” and “murderers.” In one video, Wagner allegedly declared, “I’ve already bled for this city, I’ve already fought for this city, this is nothing new, we’re ready this time,” before saying he was “coming for” ICE.

Authorities say Wagner also promoted physical attacks in other posts, including the statement: “Anywhere we have an opportunity to get our hands on them, we need to put our hands on them.” Additional posts allegedly urged supporters to identify ICE officers and suggested armed violence, including remarks about acting “at the barrel of a gun.” Wagner’s social media accounts appeared to have been removed by the time of his arrest.

The complaint further accuses Wagner of doxxing a “pro-ICE individual” by publishing a phone number, birth information, and a home address in Michigan. Prosecutors say Wagner later admitted the address belonged to the victim’s parents, which appears to be the only direct connection tying the case to Michigan, where it was filed.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Wagner “doxxed and threatened law enforcement officers” and “encouraged bloodshed in the streets,” while other Justice Department officials emphasized that threats against federal agents would be aggressively prosecuted. Wagner was arrested at his Minneapolis apartment and scheduled to appear in federal court the same day.

The case unfolds amid ongoing protests in Minnesota linked to Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement effort that prompted the deployment of thousands of agents to the state. Federal officials recently announced a partial withdrawal of personnel, while investigations continue into two protester deaths involving federal officer

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Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate then–presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in 2024, has been sentenced to life in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon delivered the sentence Wednesday in Fort Pierce, also imposing a mandatory consecutive seven-year term tied to a firearms conviction.

The September 2024 incident unfolded at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Trial testimony revealed that a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted Routh hiding in shrubbery before Trump came into view. Routh aimed a rifle toward the agent but dropped the weapon and fled after the agent opened fire. He was arrested shortly afterward on a nearby highway.

Routh, 59, represented himself for much of the trial, a decision that led to erratic courtroom moments, including an attempt to harm himself with a pen after the verdict was read. Judge Cannon later appointed counsel for sentencing, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the proceedings despite previously allowing him to proceed without an attorney. A jury found Routh guilty last fall on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple gun-related offenses.

Prosecutors argued that federal sentencing guidelines justified life behind bars, emphasizing that Routh spent months planning the attack and showed no remorse. Prosecutors also noted Routh’s extensive criminal history and online writings expressing hostility toward Trump. In court filings, the Justice Department wrote that “Routh’s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence—he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major Presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims.”

Defense attorneys sought a significantly lighter sentence, with Routh’s family members submitted letters urging the court to consider rehabilitation and mental health treatment. The defense requested between 20 and 27 years based on Routh’s age, mental health history, and the fact that no shots were fired. One filing stated that Routh “asserts that the jury was misled by his inability to effectively confront witnesses, use exhibits or affirmatively introduce impeachment evidence designed to prove his lack of intent to cause injury to anyone,” and also challenged the classification of the case as a terrorism offense.

Ultimately, the court sided with the government, concluding that the seriousness of the plot and the risk to public safety warranted the harshest possible sentence.

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The Trump administration will immediately pull 700 federal immigration and law enforcement personnel out of Minnesota, reducing the federal footprint in the state by about 25%, according to White House border czar Tom Homan. Roughly 2,000 federal agents will remain, most of them based in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Federal immigration agents have been operating in Minnesota since December as part of Operation Metro Surge, which brought more than 3,000 agents into the Twin Cities area at its peak. The deployment sparked widespread protests and intensified scrutiny after two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by federal agents during separate incidents in January.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Homan said the drawdown reflects what he described as unprecedented cooperation between federal authorities and local and county law enforcement, particularly through jails that are now transferring custody of undocumented immigrants directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement before release. That approach, he said, allows arrests to happen in controlled settings rather than in public. “More officers taking custody of criminal aliens directly from the jails, means less officers on the street doing criminal operations,” Homan said. “This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement.”

Homan stressed repeatedly that the reduction does not signal a retreat from immigration enforcement or the administration’s broader deportation agenda. “We’re not surrendering the president’s mission on a mass-deportation operation,” he said. “If you’re in the country illegally, if we find you, we’ll deport you. But this is about a targeted enforcement operation, and that’s what we’re going to be doing.” He added that a full withdrawal would depend on continued cooperation from state and local authorities, as well as a decline in violence, threats, and attacks against federal officers. “A complete drawdown is going to depend on continued cooperation of local and state law enforcement and the decrease of the violence, the rhetoric and the attacks against ICE and Border Patrol,” Homan said.

The administration has sent mixed signals in recent weeks about easing tensions in the Twin Cities. President Donald Trump initially called Pretti’s killing “very unfortunate” and said he wanted to “de-escalate” the situation, but later referred to Pretti as an “agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist” after video surfaced of him confronting federal agents. As protests and viral videos of clashes have continued, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that all DHS agents operating in Minnesota will now wear body cameras, a move Homan confirmed is being funded.

Despite the partial pullback, federal officials emphasized that immigration enforcement will continue statewide. “You’re not going to stop ICE. You’re not going to stop Border Patrol,” Homan said. “The only thing you’re doing is irritating your community that want to go get groceries or pick your children up or whatever.”

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Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to provide testimony later this month as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following weeks of tension between the former first couple and Republican lawmakers.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer confirmed that Hillary Clinton will appear on Feb. 26, followed by Bill Clinton on Feb. 27.  Comer said in a statement: “The Clintons completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month. We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.” 

The testimony will take place in the form of transcribed, videotaped depositions, which are typically conducted behind closed doors (Republican aides insist the proceedings will not be open to the public). A location for the depositions has not yet been finalized, as the Clintons have requested New York City.

The standoff followed months of back-and-forth — the committee initially requested testimony last fall, later postponing dates into December and January, which the Clintons declined. After those refusals, the panel advanced bipartisan contempt resolutions, with some Democrats joining Republicans in support.

The format, however, of the Clintons testimony remains disputed. Clinton spokesperson Nick Merrill pushed back publicly, saying, “At the 11th hour, James Comer asked for a camera, that’s fine. He can have 1,000 cameras. The Clintons will do this publicly.” Another spokesperson, Angel Ureña, echoed that position, accusing Comer of bad faith negotiations and adding, “They negotiated in good faith. You did not. They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care. But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”

The agreement came just as the House was preparing to vote on holding both Clintons in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas. Those proceedings have been paused, though Comer emphasized that contempt “is still on the table” if the couple fails to appear. “This will be their third date that we’ve given the Clintons and three strikes, and you’re out,” he said.

In written declarations submitted earlier this year, both Clintons denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane during philanthropic trips tied to the Clinton Foundation in the early 2000s but said he never visited Epstein’s private island and had not been in contact with him for more than a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest. Hillary Clinton stated she did not recall any meaningful interaction with Epstein and said she never traveled with him. Their declarations said: “To be clear, I had no idea of Mr. Epstein’s or Ms. Maxwell’s criminal activities. And, irrespective of any intent either may have ever had, I did not take any action for the purpose of helping them to avoid any type of scrutiny.”

Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing, and no Epstein survivor or associate has publicly alleged misconduct by either. The upcoming testimony is expected to mark a significant moment in the Oversight Committee’s investigation, even as disagreements continue over how transparent the process should be.

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The House narrowly approved a sweeping spending package Tuesday to bring an end to the partial government shutdown, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it without delay. The bill passed by a 217–214 vote after a tense day of negotiations and procedural hurdles.

Speaker Mike Johnson faced a razor-thin margin and could afford to lose only one Republican vote. The procedural vote to advance the bill was delayed and held open for nearly 45 minutes as GOP leaders worked to win over holdouts, including Rep. John Rose of Tennessee, who briefly opposed the measure over frustrations that the Senate had not acted on the SAVE Act, a proposal requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Rose ultimately reversed his vote, allowing the bill to move forward.  Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, voted against the final package, despite some members quietly supporting it. Jeffries had earlier made clear Democrats would not help fast-track the bill, saying his caucus held “a variety of perspectives.”

The legislation restores funding for most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, including the Pentagon and the Departments of Education, Treasury, Labor, and State. However, funding for the Department of Homeland Security is only extended for two weeks, setting a new deadline of Feb. 13 and triggering a high-stakes negotiation over immigration enforcement policy.

Democrats are using the short-term DHS extension to press for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations, following the fatal shooting of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during a federal law enforcement incident in Minneapolis. The incident sparked national outrage and intensified calls for reform.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democratic negotiator on funding, supported the bill, arguing that separating DHS allowed Congress to protect broad bipartisan agreements on other agencies while zeroing in on immigration enforcement issues. “I believe this is an opportunity to isolate DHS and go at it, hammer and tongs, tooth and nail — whatever phrase you want to use,” she said, adding that lawmakers should now focus exclusively on DHS over the next 10 days.

The Senate passed the same package last Friday by a wide 71–29 margin, and President Trump helped push it through the House by urging Republicans to back the bill as written. In a message to GOP holdouts earlier in the week, Trump warned, “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

The agreement separating DHS from the other funding bills was negotiated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the White House. While DHS agencies such as TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and Customs and Border Protection would be affected by a lapse in funding, ICE operations would continue regardless, after receiving $75 billion through the previously passed “Big Beautiful Bill.” Securing a longer-term DHS agreement remains uncertain. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., warned that deep divisions remain. “There are vast differences,” he said, predicting Congress may need another short-term extension, potentially pushing the deadline into March.

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