AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
Daniel Duggan, an Australian citizen and former U.S. Marine, appeared in Australian Federal Court to appeal his extradition to the U.S. A 2016 U.S. indictment alleges he illegally trained Chinese military pilots in 2010 and 2012. Duggan’s wife claims he’s a “pawn” in a U.S.-China conflict and broke no Australian laws, emphasizing he was an Australian citizen when the training occurred. The court will announce its verdict at a later date. The Australian Attorney General’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing court proceedings. Duggan relinquished his U.S. citizenship in 2012.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
In this undated photo provided by Saffrine Duggan her husband Daniel Duggan poses for a photo at an unknown location in Australia.
Saffrine Duggan/Saffrine Duggan via AP
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Saffrine Duggan/Saffrine Duggan via AP
He appeared at the court in Canberra to file the appeal with his attorney after traveling 350 kilometers (218 miles) from a prison in Wellington, New South Wales state.
Australian Federal Court Justice James Stellios will announce a verdict on a date yet to be set following a one-day hearing in the national capital Canberra.
A 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Court in Washington which was unsealed in late 2022, alleges Duggan conspired with others to provide training to Chinese military pilots in 2010 and 2012, and possibly other times, without applying for an appropriate license.
Prosecutors allege Duggan received about nine payments totaling around 88,000 Australian dollars ($61,000) from another conspirator as well as travel to the U.S., South Africa and China for what was sometimes described as “personal development training.”
Dreyfus was replaced as attorney general in May by Michelle Rowland, who has not reviewed her predecessor’s decision to send Boston-born Duggan back to the U.S.”
The government notes the proceedings in the Federal Court today regarding Mr. Duggan,” Rowland’s office said in a statement, adding that further comment was not appropriate because the case remains in court.
“He is being used as a pawn in an ideological war between the United States and China and the Australian government agencies have allowed this to happen and are willing participants,” Saffrine Duggan said.
“My husband broke no Australian law and he was an Australian citizen when the alleged pilot training occurred.”
Duggan served in the U.S. Marines for 12 years before migrating to Australia in 2002. He gained Australian citizenship in January 2012, giving up his U.S. citizenship in the process.
