Spain Advances US Extradition Case for Pro-Palestinian Donor
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Spain Advances US Extradition Case for Pro-Palestinian Donor
- On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Spain's government allowed a U.S. extradition request for James Cox Chambers to proceed to court, despite protests from left-wing coalition partners who argue the case is politically motivated.
- Chambers, a 41-year-old American multimillionaire media heir, was arrested on July 10, 2026, in Ibiza at the request of U.S. authorities.
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Madrid, Spain – The Spanish government has advanced a U.S. extradition request for James Cox Chambers, a pro-Palestinian donor, to its National Court. This decision, made on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, was met with objections from Spain’s left-wing coalition partners, who contend the case is politically motivated.
Chambers, 41, an American media heir known as “Fergie,” was arrested in Ibiza on July 10, 2026, while on holiday. He is currently in pre-trial detention in Madrid. U.S. authorities have not publicly detailed the charges against him, but his legal team states they include money laundering and conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct. The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment on the charges.
The U.S. reportedly accuses Chambers of funneling $7.5 million from the U.S. to a Tunisian bank account several years ago, which was allegedly used to support Hamas. Chambers’ spokesperson stated that he received $250 million in 2023 after divesting from his family’s media conglomerate, Cox Enterprises. His legal team asserts that the money transfers were for humanitarian projects, including those in Gaza, and for business interests in Tunisia, such as sponsoring a football club. Chambers has also reportedly donated over $1 million to humanitarian causes in Gaza and paid legal fees for members of the activist group Palestine Action, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and UK.
The case has drawn significant attention, with 150 prominent activists and celebrities, including Richard Gere and Greta Thunberg, signing a letter urging Spain not to proceed with the extradition. Chambers’ lawyer, Baltasar Garzon, has filed an application for asylum in Spain, arguing that the extradition would set an “alarming precedent” and that his client faces political persecution. Spanish government spokesperson Elma Saiz described the decision to advance the case as “purely procedural,” adding that the cabinet would make the final determination after the court process concludes.