Daniel Duggan is facing extradition from Australia to the US over allegations of training Chinese fighter pilots while working for a South African company.
Former US intelligence officer John Kiriakou and Australian lawyer and defence analyst Dr. Glenn Kolomeitz, believe the case is politically motivated and part of the US government’s efforts to send a message to China amidst a “cold war” between the two nations.
Daniel Duggan, an Australian citizen and father of six, has been detained in a maximum security prison since October 2022, facing extradition to the United States over allegations of training Chinese fighter pilots, which he denies.
On 19 December 2024, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus confirmed Duggan’s extradition to the US. He will be handed over “to American authorities in the early part of 2025,” The Guardian reported. He potentially faces a 60-year prison term in the US if convicted. However, his legal team continues to challenge the decision, citing issues with the extradition treaty and the lack of evidence presented against Duggan.
His family has launched a petition on Change.org, urging the Australian Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, to reverse his decision to extradite Duggan, arguing that the case is politically motivated and that Duggan should not be handed over to the US.
The family has also initiated a legal challenge in the Federal Court to block his extradition, claiming the allegations against him are baseless and that the extradition process has been unfair. They argue that Duggan has no criminal history and that the charges against him have not been tested in court.
A couple of weeks ago, Sydney Criminal Lawyers reported that a date has been set for Duggan to appeal his extradition. His appeal will be heard by the Federal Court of Australia on 26 August 2025.
Hellbound and Down 