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CNN This Morning
Person Detained for Questioning in Guthrie Kidnapping Released; FAA Closes Airspace Over El Paso, Texas, for 10 Days; Trump's Commerce Secretary Confirms Visiting Epstein's Island. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired February 11, 2026 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[06:00:06]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Audie Cornish, and we begin with this breaking news in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
A person who was detained for questioning in connection to the case has now been released. This, according to our affiliate KNX. And it's just one of the major developments.
Authorities released this video earlier Tuesday, showing a masked, armed person at Guthrie's door the night she vanished. It was obtained from her doorbell camera. We do not know if the person they were questioning has any connection to this footage, and, as of yet, no one has been charged.
Then last night, CNN learned that a House and car had been searched. It all happened in Rio Rico, Arizona. That's about 60 miles from Tucson, where Guthrie was last seen.
Investigators were at the House until a few hours ago, and CNN spoke with a woman who said it was her home that they'd been searching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know who she is. I don't know anything about her. They only said that they gave a tip that she was in my House. And I told them, you can go in and search my House. There's nobody there. I have nothing to hide. There's nobody in my House, and I don't know what's going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: A source tells CNN authorities still do not know where Nancy Guthrie is.
Joining me now is Derek Gaunt. He's actually a former hostage negotiator. He's the co-author of "Fight Less, Win More."
Thank you so much for being here.
DEREK GAUNT, FORMER HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR: Thank you, Audie. CORNISH: So, before we learned that this person was detained and
released, FBI Director Kash Patel told FOX News this about the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR (via phone): We are going to interview and interrogate absolutely every single person that we think is involved with this or has information related to this. And we're going to use all of our capabilities, without divulging them, to advance this investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: What do you make about how this is playing out? The few people they have reached out to, for this example, have been released?
GAUNT: Yes. You know, on -- on these types of red ball cases, and this is the -- the reddest of the red ball cases, you're going to get quality leads. You're going to cruddy leads. Sometimes your quality leads turn into cruddy leads.
And the fact of the matter is, all of those leads have to be run down. Some of them pan out. Some of them don't. And this is -- obviously, ones that did not pan out.
CORNISH: I want to talk about the ransom notes for a moment. They've still not been verified. And most Americans aren't familiar with this kind of abduction.
Can you talk about the role of ransom notes and the way that it's been playing out in this case?
GAUNT: Sure. Kidnapping in the U.S., very rare. Ransom notes, very rare. The problem with ransom notes is it's hard to establish their validity, because this is a high-profile case. And there are people who want to insert themselves into this case, whether they actually are involved or not.
So, it's very difficult to determine whether a ransom note is real or not. They're still working around the clock to try to determine that, but it's an uphill struggle to -- to actually determine whether or not they are real; whether or not they can tie them back to a suspect.
CORNISH: There is so much interest in this case. But you have an investigation running parallel to the kind of public negotiation the Guthrie family has been trying to do via social media.
Does that work, so to speak? Can you talk about how a hostage-type negotiation or an abduction is -- is it possible for it to run parallel with an investigation?
GAUNT: It has to run parallel with the investigation. It has to, because whoever's involved in this is listening. And so, everything that's released by the family, everything that's released by the authorities, have to be done -- has to be done with this idea that the perpetrators are listening.
This is -- this is negotiating in a nontraditional environment. This is not dissimilar to what we were doing during the D.C. sniper investigation. We had a whole army of negotiators set up to help mold the messages that Chief Moose was putting out over the air. This is no different.
CORNISH: What are you going to be listening for in the next 24 hours?
[06:05:01]
GAUNT: I'm going to be listening for legitimate leads to come forward about the person on the front porch. There were too many unique characteristics in the video for someone not to recognize backpack, gait, mask, eyes.
So, in the next 24, 48 hours, I'm looking forward to that person that comes up and says, "I know this person."
CORNISH: OK. That's Derek Gaunt. Thank you so much. His book is called "Fight Less, Win More."
Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, more breaking news. It turns out the FAA has shut down the airspace over El Paso. What we are learning about this extremely rare move.
Plus, new details about a mass shooting in Canada, the country's deadliest school shooting in decades.
And Israel's prime minister in D.C. for a meeting with the president. What's on the agenda for the two world leaders?
And then, should the White House cut ties with Howard Lutnick after a new Epstein revelation? The group chat is going to have some thoughts about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:10:34]
CORNISH: Breaking out of El Paso, Texas, where in a rare move, the airspace is now closed for ten days.
The FAA is halting all flights to and from El Paso International citing, quote, "special security reasons." It's a move that even shocked flight crews when they heard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: El Paso is going to be shut down to air traffic for security reasons.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know if there's any exceptions for medevac status?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a great question. There are no exceptions. It's a complete ground stop. And it's a complete ground stop. Not even medevacs are allowed to fly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The restrictions will also apply to part of Southern New Mexico. It's a rare move. Experts say the U.S. hasn't closed airspace for security since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Joining me now to discuss is Mary Schiavo, CNN aviation analyst and former inspector general at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Mary, thank you so much for being here. What I noticed with those air traffic controllers is they're asking, is there a reason? And they say no, not that they know, but that there's no exceptions, not even medevac.
Can you talk about how unusual that is?
MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Well, it's very unusual, and like you mentioned, not since September 11, 2001.
But remember, the grounding of September 11, 2001, came too late. And the FAA is often criticized for being reactive, not proactive.
So, in order to do this and -- and -- and the reason it doesn't happen very often is the FAA and, of course, TSA and national security intel agencies have to have a credible threat or a high significant security risk.
And that means they have information that something would endanger the air traffic above El Paso and the area, or it poses a danger from the air to people on the ground. And the threat has to show they have some ability to -- to do it.
CORNISH: Yes.
SCHIAVO: So, this is undoubtedly very serious.
And then also, it could be military exercises. It could be in support of law enforcement. The FAA can do that for those reasons, as well.
Or they can do it if they have foreign intelligence, that they don't have all the details yet, but they have enough from a foreign intelligence source, trustworthy, that something -- that something presents a huge risk. And more details to follow.
So, there are many reasons they can do it.
CORNISH: Yes. Let me follow up then. Because there was something specific in the alert, which was called a "notice to airmen." It talks about the airspace being closed.
And then it has this warning for pilots that, quote, "The United States government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat." Is that standard language?
SCHIAVO: Well, yes, it is in a very serious case. For example, that was the language after September 11. And that's the language if you stray too close, even as a private pilot, to air bases or facilities where you may not go.
They will usually send an escort. Sometimes they send an escort just for training. I got one once in Ohio.
But it -- it can be done. And it's certainly part of the protocol when the threat is serious.
CORNISH: A local reporter actually told CNN that they were able to get through to the FAA. Here's what they learned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MOORE, FOUNDER, "EL PASO MATTERS" (via phone): I was able to get through to an FAA official who actually was the one who put out the notice.
And he said he couldn't even tell me what it was about, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know. He was just told, Get this notice out now.
And so, it's this area around El Paso International Airport. And El Paso is the nation's 23rd largest city. So, this is a big deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: He mentioned this being a big deal. Can you talk about how shutting down airspace can have ripple effects?
SCHIAVO: Oh, certainly it can. And then also, it's the airspace next to El Paso that covers some military airspace, as well. So, it's not just the airport. And that gives us a pretty big clue and extends up to a nearby mountain range.
But yes, of course I mean, and it's not unusual that not everyone in the FAA would know, because you have to have different levels of clearance. Just because you're cleared to work in the tower doesn't mean that you have the highest levels of intelligence clearance. And this warning may have come through at a very high level. I mean, top secret --
CORNISH: Yes.
SCHIAVO: -- and even levels above that. So, that's not unusual.
[06:15:00]
CORNISH: There's going to be some people, maybe online who are going to say, Gee, this looks very close to this search people are doing for Nancy Guthrie and kind of try to tie these news stories together.
What cautions do you have? What -- what would you offer people as they're learning this news this morning?
SCHIAVO: Well, you know, first of all, the -- the FAA can support law enforcement activities.
But with the military base -- not the base itself, but this area nearby that covers some military activity and that it stops right at the Mexico border. I would suspect that it's not tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. But they could do that if there was a need for it.
But the ten-day window tells us something is going on, and they don't have the exact date pinpointed.
But the FAA, the TSA, and our national intelligence is erring on the side of safety and security, as they should. And a mistake that they don't want to repeat after September 11, 2001. That was a big mistake.
CORNISH: Mary Schiavo, thank you for your time. I'm sure we'll be checking in more today.
In the meantime, we want to turn to this. The commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, faced a grilling on Capitol Hill after new documents revealed he may not have cut ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005, like he claimed last year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD LUTNICK, COMMERCE SECRETARY: I looked through the millions of documents for my name, just like everybody else, and what I found was there was a document that says that I had a meeting with him.
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): No, everyone isn't worried about their names being in the Epstein files.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Lutnick admitted during the hearing before a Senate committee that he had taken his family to Epstein's island for a lunch in 2012. This was seven years after he had claimed that he had cut ties with Epstein, and after Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes.
Lutnick is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing but is now facing bipartisan calls to resign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Well, look, the issue here is that he totally misled the American public, the survivors, the Congress, when he said that, 2005, he and his wife went to Epstein's apartment.
The credibility is at the core of this issue. Because he again suggested that he had had no further contact with this guy, who he called disgusting. And then years later, he's on the private island.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Sabrina Rodriguez, politics reporter at "The Wall Street Journal"; Charlie Dent, Republican from Pennsylvania and former congressman; and Antjuan Seawright, Democratic strategist.
I want to start with you, Sabrina, because I don't -- obviously, there's some focus here on Lutnick. Is this just like a scalp for scalp's sake, or like, of all the people who may be appearing in these files, talk about the focus on Lutnick.
SABRINA RODRIGUEZ, POLITICS REPORTER, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": I think the focus on Lutnick right now is, is of course, him being the highest profile cabinet official in the Trump administration.
The fact that he has confirmed that this meeting happened this is no longer something that's just speculative in the documents or his name comes up, or you don't have a ton of context here. He has confirmed that he had this meeting, and you have the hard proof of him speaking in a podcast and saying that he did not see Jeffrey Epstein after 2005.
CORNISH: We actually have some of this. Let's -- let's play this for people. The kind of "then and now" of him talking about this, for instance, lunch on the island.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUTNICK: My wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again. So, I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy. If that guy was there, I wasn't going, because he's gross.
I did have lunch with him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple with -- they were there, as well, with their children, and we had lunch on the island. That is true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: What's the focus here for Democrats? Like, why is there this, like -- other than him being a cabinet member? There are so many other names they could be going after.
ANTJUAN SEAWRIGHT, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, it's bigger than just Democrats. This is about bipartisan accountability. And that's why, when Republicans campaigned on releasing those files immediately, and yet we see them travel well below the speed limit, when it comes to releasing them, it's because they knew things like this were in the -- in these files. And they also knew the political fallout that could happen.
Now, I think when it comes to the commerce secretary, the reason why you're seeing this bipartisan call for his resignation is --
[06:20:03]
CORNISH: Is it bipartisan, or is it just Thomas Massie?
SEAWRIGHT: Well, that's considered bipartisan.
CORNISH: That's one person.
SEAWRIGHT: Well, you have a Democrat -- But -- but keep in mind --
CORNISH: Yes.
SEAWRIGHT: -- it was Democrats and Republicans who voted to release these files. And I think it's more information come out. You'll see the bipartisan call for accountability.
And I think that's a rare thing in Washington --
CORNISH: Do you think it's bipartisan?
SEAWRIGHT: -- and I think it should be uplifted.
CORNISH: You're watching.
CHARLIE DENT, FORMER REPUBLICAN PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSMAN: Not at this moment, but, you know, obviously, Howard Lutnick was caught in the contradiction here.
He had lunch with him after he said he had disavowed any contact with him. I'm not saying Howard Lutnick did anything wrong. I'm just saying there was once upon a time, though, when -- when if a cabinet member became a bit of a distraction, that they would take themselves out of the game, that they would step back.
That's not obviously happening here, but we're finding the -- also, just the contrast between what's happening here and what's happening in Europe.
CORNISH: Right.
DENT: Where, you know, Keir Starmer's government is on the brink. The crown princess of Norway is -- you know, might not be able to ascend to the throne as queen. And there's -- there's a different sense of accountability there than here. But again, ordinarily somebody might step back.
CORNISH: Will that change if the House is won by Democrats in the fall?
DENT: Not necessarily. You know, I guess --
CORNISH: Do you think that will change, if House --
SEAWRIGHT: I think there will be a deeper sense of accountability. But I think there's a protection plan in place between Trump and his cabinet officials. They protect the president; the president protects them. And so, I do not see the president releasing him.
CORNISH: But would Democrats focus on that, if they took over the House?
SEAWRIGHT: The Democrats are going to focus on holding these cabinet officials accountable in whatever way accountability looks like.
CORNISH: OK, you guys stay with me, because we've got a lot more to discuss this hour and a lot of news.
We've got our breaking news coverage in the search for Nancy Guthrie and a person detained for questioning overnight, who has now been released.
Plus, there's this news out of Canada: a mass shooting there at a school.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:26:07]
CORNISH: We're following breaking news in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Authorities cleared the scene after searching a home in Southern Arizona.
Now, the home is located in Rio Rico, which is not far from the Mexican border. A person was detained during a traffic stop there and questioned by law enforcement. That's a source told CNN. They have since been released.
Authorities are looking for this person, seen on Guthrie's doorbell camera the night she disappeared. We'll have a live report from the scene in just a few minutes.
And it's now 26 minutes past the hour. Here are five things to know to get your day going.
Nine people have died after a mass shooting in Canada. This happened in a remote town in British Columbia. At least seven people were fatally shot at a school. Dozens others were injured, and two others were found dead at a home nearby. And the suspect is also dead.
And in just a few hours, President Trump will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. And the agenda, as expected to include potential military options to use against Iran if ongoing negotiations break down.
The Trump administration removes the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument. It's the country's first national monument for LGBTQ rights, and people are outraged by the move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We condemn this gesture of brazen homophobia, and we will work to reverse this unjust policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, this removal follows a White House directive restricting the types of flags which can be flown at national park sites.
And a first-time Olympic bronze medal winner breaks down in tears after his race, not because of what he just achieved. The Norwegian biathlete, in a live TV interview, admitted he is struggling after cheating on his girlfriend. He said he wished he could share the moment with her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STURLA HOLM LAEGREID, NORWEGIAN OLYMPIC MEDALIST: Today I made the choice to tell the world what I did. So maybe -- maybe there is a chance that she will show, see what she really means to me. And maybe not. But I would -- don't want to think I didn't try everything to get her back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: He says he has not heard from her since the interview. Still hoping it will help them reconcile.
And Vice President J.D. Vance has some advice for Olympians: Shut up and ski.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: You're there to play a sport, and you're there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You're not there to pop off about politics. So, when Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The comments from the free speech advocate comes after President Trump called Olympic skier Hunter Hess a, quote, "real loser" after Hess said he had mixed emotions about representing the U.S. right now.
And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, today, Pam Bondi in the hot seat. Will Republicans go easy on her about the Epstein files?
Plus, a person detained for questioning in the search for Nancy Guthrie. We're going to be live from the scene next.
And good morning to Buffalo, New York. Snow coming down today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:30:00]
