Spain has allowed a US request to extradite American donor James Cox Chambers to proceed to court, Reuters reported on 22 September. The government’s spokesperson described the step as procedural and said the cabinet would decide whether to approve extradition after the court process concludes. A hearing date is expected to be set in the coming weeks.
Chambers, 41, was arrested at the request of US authorities on 10 July while on holiday in Ibiza. He is being held in pre-trial detention in Madrid. The United States has not publicly set out the charges. Chambers’ legal team says the allegations include money laundering and conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct; the US Department of Justice declined to comment.
Dispute over the case
Chambers’ lawyers and Sumar, the junior partner in Spain’s governing coalition, argue that the limited public evidence suggests he is being targeted for his political views. Spanish law bars extradition if a request is found to be politically motivated. His lawyer, Baltasar Garzon, has also applied for asylum for Chambers in Spain.
The case has drawn attention from pro-Palestinian advocates. A letter urging Spain not to proceed was signed by 150 public figures, including Richard Gere, Greta Thunberg and Fatima Bhutto.
Chambers has described himself as anti-imperialist and communist and has called for the destruction of the United States in interviews and on social media, according to Reuters. His spokesperson said he received $250 million after selling his stake in family media company Cox Enterprises in 2023. His legal team says he donated more than $1 million to humanitarian causes in Gaza and paid legal fees for some Palestine Action members. The group has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States and the United Kingdom for actions including targeting Israel-linked defence companies.
The court proceedings will examine the extradition request, but Spain’s cabinet retains the final decision. The government’s procedural step does not itself mean Chambers will be extradited.
Source: Al-Monitor / Reuters, 22 September 2026.
