Millionaire Suspected of Financing Hamas: Will Spain Block His Extradition to the U.S.?

Spain announced overnight Tuesday that it had referred the U.S. request to extradite pro-Palestinian millionaire James Chambers to the United States to a federal court. U.S. authorities are investigating him on suspicion that he raised and transferred millions of dollars to Hamas.

Ynet reported that the attorney for the man sought for questioning claims this is political persecution by the U.S. administration. Spanish authorities chose not to reject the extradition request and instead allowed the court in Madrid to make a decision on the matter.

A Spanish government spokesperson clarified that the decision merely authorizes the start of the legal process, and does not determine Chambers’ guilt or order that he actually be handed over to the United States. Even if the court approves the extradition, the case will ultimately return to the government, which could still prevent the transfer.

Chambers, 41, is a descendant of the Cox family, one of America’s wealthiest families, which built its fortune through the Cox Enterprises empire in communications, automobiles, and media, and which owns, among other assets, the news site Axios.

In 2023, he parted ways with his holdings in the family business and reportedly received about $250 million. He is described as holding anti-capitalist and anti-American views, and has transferred large sums to left-wing organizations and Palestinian projects.

He was arrested on July 10 in Ibiza, where he had arrived with his wife, Jewish actress Stella Schnabel, and their son. He was arrested under an international warrant issued at the request of the United States. He has since been held in a Madrid prison. U.S. authorities say he transferred $7.5 million to Tunisia, where he lived for a period. American authorities suspect the money was intended to support foreign terrorist organizations, led by Hamas. He is also accused of offenses connected to riots and protest activity against Elbit Systems in the United States. If convicted on all charges, he could face decades in prison.

In his defense, Chambers claims that the money in Tunisia was used, among other things, to invest in Club Africain, one of the country’s biggest soccer clubs.