Key facts
- FBI agents raided the Ibiza, Spain, vacation rental of James "Fergie" Chambers.
- Chambers is wanted for extradition by the Trump administration for alleged financial support of Hamas.
- The case involves allegations of laundering $7.5 million to support the Palestinian group.
- Chambers' lawyer, Baltasar Garzón, believes the case is politically motivated and the indictment is weak.
- Humanitarian projects in Gaza that Chambers funded have paused operations.
FBI agents raided the Ibiza, Spain, vacation rental of James “Fergie” Chambers, a US citizen and wealthy donor to leftwing and humanitarian projects, in the days following his arrest last month. Chambers is wanted for extradition by the Trump administration for alleged financial support of Hamas and other charges.
Baltasar Garzón, Chambers' human rights lawyer, described the case as "very strange" and characterized the indictment as "pretty weak and diffuse," suggesting it may be politically motivated. The case centers on allegations that Chambers laundered $7.5 million, wired from a US bank account to Tunisia several years ago, to support the Palestinian group. Chambers' legal team stated that the funds were used to purchase a football club and cover its debts, not for terrorist acts.
Chambers, heir to the Cox family, owners of Cox Communications, has supported humanitarian projects in Gaza totaling over $1 million. His partner, Stella Schnabel, said the funds in question were used to buy the football club Club Africain. The club went on to win the Tunisian football league in May.
Garzón indicated that the extradition process could take months, with US authorities needing to submit documentation by Wednesday. He noted that Spain could deny extradition if the petition is deemed politically motivated. Garzón also revealed that the US indictment was filed in New Hampshire and that Chambers has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy and Israel's actions in Gaza.
Funds have been temporarily halted to the Sameer Project in Gaza, which supported a bakery producing free bread daily, impacting tens of thousands of Palestinians.