Spain Approves Extradition of US Millionaire Accused of Hamas Funding to US Court
Spain's Council of Ministers has approved a US request to extradite 41-year-old multimillionaire and pro-Palestinian activist James "Fergie" Chalmers to the United States. Chalmers is accused of money laundering and financing the terrorist organization Hamas. The decision allows the case to proceed to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's national court, which will ultimately decide on the extradition.
Chalmers' lawyers argued that the US request constituted political persecution. However, the Spanish government decided not to halt the process, forwarding it to the judiciary. Historically, Spanish courts have approved US extradition requests if the alleged crimes are also recognized under Spanish law. The US is a frequent requester of extraditions from Spain, with 44 requests processed in 2025 alone, according to the Spanish prosecutor's office.
Given this precedent and the fact that money laundering is a crime in Spain, the court is expected to approve at least a significant portion of the US request. The government's decision was made despite opposition from Sumar, a far-left party and junior coalition partner. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government stated that this decision only permits the case to move to the judicial phase; the government could still block the extradition if the court approves it.
Chalmers is an heir to the wealthy Cox family, owners of the media empire Cox Enterprises, which includes the news outlet Axios. He reportedly received around $250 million after leaving the family business in 2023. He has since become known for his Marxist-Leninist, anti-capitalist, and anti-American views, directing substantial funds toward left-wing and pro-Palestinian causes.
He was arrested on July 10th in Ibiza, while with his wife, Jewish actress Stella Schnabel, and son, based on an international arrest warrant issued at the US's request. He has been held in a prison near Madrid since then. The US case centers on a $7.5 million transfer from the US to Tunisia, where Chalmers had resided. US authorities suspect these funds were intended to support foreign terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas. He also faces charges related to protests against Elbit Systems in the US, with potential decades of imprisonment if convicted on all counts.
Chalmers' defense team, led by former judge Baltasar Garzón, contends that the Trump administration criminalized Chalmers' pro-Palestinian activities, attempting to portray humanitarian aid as terrorism financing. They argue that funds transferred to Tunisia were used for legitimate investments, including in the football club Club Africain, and that money sent to Gaza was for humanitarian projects.
