A group of former Libertarian National Committee members is urging the current committee to take further steps in response to alleged misconduct by former Chair Angela McArdle, who resigned from the National Committee earlier this year.
McArdle announced her resignation in late January, stating at the time that she was taking on a new opportunity that would leave her unable to remain in the chair position. She was replaced by Steven Nekhaila in a 9-to-6 vote the following month.
Now, in an open letter shared Wednesday by former LNC Chair Nicholas Sarwark, more than 30 signatories call on the party to settle two ongoing derivative lawsuits and initiate direct legal action against McArdle. All of the signers are former members of the Libertarian National Committee, having served at various points since the 1980s. Sarwark writes that the letter will be sent to all members of the current National Committee by the end of this week.
The letter alleges that the party saw “diminished performance on all fronts” following McArdle’s election as chair in 2022. Citing declines in membership, donors, and candidate recruitment, the signers argue that her tenure led to serious setbacks for the party. They write that investigations and legal filings have also revealed “shocking self-dealing and violations of fiduciary duties,” including claims of embezzlement through a Delaware shell corporation and misuse of party resources.
The former National Committee members contend that past efforts to shield McArdle from accountability have undermined party trust and governance. They reference two derivative suits: the first brought by former Region 7 Representative Beth Vest prior to the 2024 National Convention, and a second filed by Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos following the convention. Both remain pending, and the authors call on the current national leadership to “do the right thing” by settling the suits and pursuing restitution on behalf of the party.
The full text of the open letter is republished below:
Open Letter to the Libertarian National Committee
April 20, 2025
Dear Members of the Libertarian National Committee,
Every person signing this letter has previously served on the Libertarian National Committee at some point during the last fifty-four years of Libertarian Party History. We know what the role means and what it demands of the people who fill it.
The Libertarian Party has had some bad years lately. They got worse in 2022 when Angela McArdle took over as Chair of the Libertarian National Committee, resulting in diminished performance on all fronts: fewer members, fewer donors, and fewer candidates for public office.
Evidence produced by independent investigations and discovery in derivative lawsuits brought by members of the Libertarian National Committee have revealed shocking self-dealing and violations of fiduciary duties by Angela McArdle.
Under increasing pressure due to her overt support for Donald Trump and MAGA and apparent embezzlement of party funds through the use of a Delaware shell corporation, Angela McArdle resigned as Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. You, the members of the committee, chose Stephen Nekhaila of Florida to replace McArdle in the role of Chair.
This was a good first step toward putting right what McArdle had set wrong, but there needs to be further action taken to restore trust in the membership.
Beth Vest was the first LNC member to bring a derivative suit setting forth Angela McArdle’s violations of her duties under District of Columbia nonprofit law. Caryn Ann Harlos later brought a second derivative suit alleging further violations by McArdle that took place after the 2024 Libertarian National Convention. Both of these lawsuits had to be brought as derivative actions because a majority of LNC members chose to defend Angela McArdle’s behavior instead of holding her accountable.
In retrospect, defending Angela McArdle has proven to be a mistake.
When you make a mistake, it is good to correct it. And the way the Libertarian National Committee can correct that mistake is to settle the existing derivative suit in a way that puts the Libertarian National Committee in the driver’s seat to hold Angela McArdle legally accountable for diverting funds into her own household and diverting resources away from the Libertarian Party toward other organizations.
The best time for the LNC to act to show donors, members, and candidates that you take the duty of oversight seriously would have been when the allegations were first brought to the LNC by Beth Vest. The second best time for the LNC to act is now.
All of the undersigned former LNC members would vote to settle the derivative lawsuits and pursue direct legal action including discovery and restitution against Angela McArdle.
We urge you to do the right thing for the future of the Libertarian Party at this critical time in American history, so the party can move forward with integrity and accountability.
Yours in liberty,
[Signatories]
The Harlos lawsuit dealt with the Kennedy Victory Fund and Rage Against the War Machine, primarily.
Both called for McArdle to be removed. It looks like it will be moot.
Will Sarwark do the same with JBH and Caryn Harlos, since both blatantly committed misconduct?
I believe Sarwark is just trying to get attention.