Attorneys for James "Fergie" Chambers, a U.S. citizen and donor to humanitarian and left-wing causes worldwide, have submitted a legal brief ahead of a government meeting on his extradition case. Chambers is currently detained in Madrid and is being sought by U.S. authorities. His partner, actor and activist Stella Schnabel, recently met with members of the Spanish parliament to argue for his innocence. The defense team claims the U.S. government has not provided specific evidence of violent acts or damages directly linked to Chambers, and instead seeks to criminalize activities related to political protest. They also argue that the U.S. charge of "conspiracy to commit riot" has no equivalent in Spanish law, which could make the extradition invalid. This would be the first known case of the U.S. seeking to extradite a citizen for alleged support of Hamas. Chambers' legal team submitted its brief ahead of a meeting by Spain's council of ministers, expected on September 22. This council can decide whether to allow the U.S. extradition request to proceed, based on an evaluation of materials provided by the Trump administration on August 26. Under Spanish law, at this "administrative" stage, the 22-member council has the power to deny the request before it reaches a "judicial" stage. The U.S. government's case against Chambers centers on allegations that he laundered $7.5 million from a U.S. bank account to Tunisia, where he lived at the time, and used the money to support Hamas. The exact details of the indictment remain sealed. Chambers’ defense argues that the charges of "international money laundering" are unfounded, as his wealth was obtained legally through a settlement with his family, who own Atlanta-based Cox Communications. His donations have supported around 100 projects in 20 countries, including the Sameer Project in Gaza. Human rights lawyer Baltasar Garzón, a member of Chambers’ legal team, warned that allowing the extradition could set a dangerous precedent in Europe, as it would criminalize humanitarian aid to Palestinians. Schnabel has met with members of the left-wing political parties Sumar and Podemos and has written a letter to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, asking him to deny the extradition. Sánchez is part of the council of ministers. Schnabel has also faced scrutiny since her partner’s detention on July 10 in Ibiza, including an encounter with the FBI at JFK airport, where her phone was confiscated. Support for Chambers has come from Ione Bellara, leader of Podemos, who opposed the extradition request, stating that Chambers was "on the right side of history" with his support for Palestinians. Sumar, the left-wing coalition governing alongside Sánchez’s Socialist party, urged the government to deny the extradition petition, arguing that the goal was to criminalize Chambers for his political opinions and support for the Palestinian people. Irene Montero of Podemos stated that Spanish laws do not contemplate the actions Chambers is accused of and warned against becoming a subject of the United States. Activists have held rallies in at least six Spanish cities in support of Chambers, with more planned. A petition signed by figures such as Richard Gere, Greta Thunberg, and Angela Davis was delivered to the Spanish government. In Tunisia, supporters of the Club Africain football team displayed banners and T-shirts reading "Free Fergie." In Portugal, fans at Festa do Avante held a banner saying "Free Fergie - supporting Palestine isn't a crime." Schnabel stated that the $7.5 million went to support Club Africain. Hamed Mbarek, a Club Africain supporter, said the club is "pro-Palestine" and that Chambers and the club had "synchronicity." Chambers’ money comes from a mid-2023 settlement with his family, owners of Atlanta-based Cox Communications, in which he sold stock back to his family worth about $250 million. His family severed contact with him at the time. Chambers’ views and donations have been widely covered in U.S. media. He was interviewed on a TV news station in New Hampshire in late 2023 about a direct action against Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense contractor, staged by a group whose legal fees he paid. He has been a critic of the U.S., stating in 2024 that "the most important thing for the prosperity of humanity is the destruction of the U.S." Chambers posted on X about Israel's response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, stating that Israel's actions were "genocide." Irene Zugasti, who organized rallies in support of Chambers, sees the case as a test of how much European governments feel pressure from the United States.