TheFBI Director, Kash Patel, has been criticised following his appearance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. While his office states the trip is for official security briefings, members of the public have questioned the timing of the visit. The Bureau is currently leading a high-profile search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, who was abducted from her home earlier this month.

Director Patel was seen in an Olympic hospitality suite on 19 February 2026 during a match involving the United States men's ice hockey team. Public flight records indicate that the Director travelled to Italy on agovernment-funded aircraftat an estimated cost of $75,000 (approximately £55,500).Criticsargue that his presence is required in the United States to oversee the investigation into the Guthrie kidnapping.

The FBI has defended the travel as a necessary component of international law enforcement cooperation. A spokesperson for the Bureau stated that the trip included meetings with Italian security officials and the US Ambassador. Political and social media scrutiny has focused on the director's decision to attend a sporting event while federal resources are deployed to a major domestic crime scene.

The FBI maintains that the trip to Milan was scheduled several months in advance. SpokespersonBen Williamsonconfirmed that Director Patel held meetings regarding security protocols for international events. Despite these justifications, Congressional representatives have questioned the necessity of the trip. They suggest that the Director's focus should remain on domestic crises, particularly given the gravity of the Guthrie case.

This is the fourth public official event since Director Patel’s arrival in Italy. And for those wondering, I have yet to receive any follow up from CBS or MS NOW who purposefully misled people to think Kash was flying to Italy to hang out at the Olympics.https://t.co/eKVG0joHvE

The use of a government Gulfstream jet for the journey has also been a point of contention.Financial analystsestimate the total cost to taxpayers at approximately $75,000. This expenditure has been labelled as unnecessary by those who believe the Director should have delegated the Olympic security meetings to subordinate officials.

While Director Patel attended events in Italy, the search for Nancy Guthrie entered its third week. Mrs Guthrie was taken from her Tucson residence on 1 February 2026 in what investigators call a targeted extraction. TheFBI recently increasedthe reward for information to $100,000 (about £74,000). They also released doorbell camera footage showing a suspect carrying a specific brand of hiking backpack.

Recent leads suggest the suspect may have crossed the border into Sonora, Mexico. Forensic teams have recoveredDNA from a glovefound at the Tucson scene, though no arrests have been made. Some former officials have argued that the Director's public-facing leadership style is a distraction from the quiet efficiency required for hostage recovery.

REMINDER: FBI reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” - 5’10” tall of average build.Report tips to…pic.twitter.com/PrFkHPj9Ac

The DNA that was submitted to CODIS was from the set of gloves found 2 miles away. It did not trigger a match in CODIS & did not match DNA found at the property. The DNA found at the property is being analyzed & further testing needs to be done as part of the investigation.

Source: International Business Times UK