Daniel Duggan, a former U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is facing extradition from Australia to the United States over allegations of illegally training Chinese aviators.
Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus approved this extradition on Monday, bringing to an end a nearly two-year battle for the 55-year-old, who hails from Boston, as he attempted to remain in Australia.
Background of Daniel Duggan
Duggan’s journey began after a 12-year career in the Marines, after which he moved to Australia and renounced his American citizenship.
Since his arrest in 2022 at his residence in New South Wales, he has been held in a maximum-security prison.
He is also a father of six.
Extradition Approval
During the announcement of the extradition on Monday, Dreyfus did not provide specifics regarding when Duggan would be sent to the U.S. He emphasized that Duggan was given the opportunity to voice his arguments against extradition and reassured everyone that all pertinent information was meticulously reviewed before the decision was made.
Allegations and Consequences
A Sydney judge paved the way for Duggan’s extradition in May, leaving the Attorney General’s approval as his last point of appeal to stay in Australia.
In late 2022, a Washington, D.C., District Court unsealed an indictment against Duggan.
This document charged him with conspiring to train Chinese military pilots between 2010 and 2012, plus potentially at other times, without the appropriate licenses.
Prosecutors allege that Duggan received around 88,000 Australian dollars (about $61,000) in payments, alongside various international travel perks, which were part of what was described as “personal development training.”
Should he be convicted, Duggan faces a possible prison sentence of up to 60 years.
He asserts his innocence in the face of these serious allegations.
In response to the extradition news, Duggan’s wife, Saffrine, voiced her feelings of neglect by the Australian government and expressed disappointment in their inability to safeguard their family.
She indicated that they are now considering their next steps amid these challenging circumstances.
Source: Militarytimes