Pima County Supervisors Refer Sheriff Chris Nanos Perjury Claims to State AG After Failed Ouster Bid

A move to oust Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos failed at a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night. The board did vote 4-0 to refer perjury allegations against him to the state attorney general's office amid scrutiny of his past record and handling of the Nancy Guthrie case.

Republican Steve Christy moved to declare the sheriff's office vacant and start the replacement process immediately. No one seconded the motion, and it failed.

Democrat Rex Scott then moved to refer the perjury claims to the state AG's office. Christy abstained from the vote.

The actions capped a showdown over claims that Nanos, who leads the Guthrie kidnapping investigation, lied under oath about his police record.

The pressure built for weeks from supervisors Christy and Democrat Matt Heinz, who pushed to remove the elected sheriff or take formal action.

"This is accountability for a guy who has evaded accountability for decades," Heinz told Fox News Digital last week. He called Nanos a "public safety threat."

The claims center on Nanos' disciplinary history as a Texas police officer in the 1970s and 1980s. In a deposition for a lawsuit, he said under oath that he had never been suspended as a law enforcement officer.

Records from El Paso, first obtained by the Arizona Republic and later posted by the county, show multiple suspensions and resignation in lieu of termination.

Christy said Nanos missed a board deadline to answer questions under oath. "He’s already failed that request… so we’re into the next phase," Christy said.

Removing an elected sheriff is legally complicated. Supervisors have cited a rarely used Arizona law from the 1800s as a possible path.

Heinz said the board could pass a no-confidence resolution or pursue criminal investigation by the state AG. A perjury conviction would force Nanos from office.

Both sides retained outside legal counsel instead of using the county attorney's office. Christy said this costs taxpayers extra money.

In a written response, Nanos called the controversy a misunderstanding, not perjury. His attorney said the testimony covered only his Arizona career. Nanos was never suspended during decades with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, though he faced discipline in Texas.

The memo confirmed Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982 rather than accept a proposed suspension after a dispute with a supervisor.

Heinz disputed that, saying records show resignation in lieu of termination, not just discipline.

Nanos declined to answer questions in person under oath. He submitted a notarized statement after the deadline. Heinz said it may be accepted but does not resolve concerns.

The investigation into Guthrie's Feb. 1 disappearance has lasted past 100 days with few public breakthroughs. The case involves the 84-year-old mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie and has drawn national attention.

Tension exists between Nanos and the FBI, including a public clash with Director Kash Patel over whether federal agents were initially sidelined. Heinz called for handing the probe to federal authorities.

"It’s ridiculous," he said. "Almost every other jurisdiction would have done so by now."

More than $1.2 million in reward money is offered for information leading to answers. Her family continues to plead for help.