A legal motion has been filed in D.C. Superior Court to consolidate two derivative lawsuits involving allegations against Angela McArdle, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee, and the Libertarian National Committee itself. The plaintiffs, Beth Vest and Caryn Ann Harlos, both sitting members of the committee at the time of their respective filings, allege violations of fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, and mismanagement of party resources by McArdle.
Documents first obtained last week by Third Party Watch reveal that Vest filed the motion to consolidate on December 26, 2024, on behalf of both herself and Harlos. That same day, Harlos submitted a separate notice to the court regarding the filing.
The motion to consolidate argues that the two derivative lawsuits share significant overlap in factual allegations, draw from similar witnesses within the Libertarian Party, and address the same legal questions. Both plaintiffs are also represented by the same legal counsel. The motion asserts that combining the cases would streamline proceedings, reduce duplicative efforts, and minimize the risk of inconsistent rulings.
Vest initiated her lawsuit in May 2024 while serving as the Region 7 Representative on the Libertarian National Committee. Her claims include allegations that McArdle misused party funds, engaged in self-dealing, and violated party bylaws. Harlos followed with a similar suit in October, citing unauthorized financial transactions, concealment of party records, and personal reputational harm she attributes to “direct encouragement and inappropriate interference” by McArdle during public efforts to remove her as National Secretary. Both lawsuits challenge McArdle’s leadership and seek her suspension and removal as Chair.
Harlos’ lawsuit is scheduled for an initial scheduling conference on January 10, 2025, while Vest’s case has advanced to the discovery phase after the court denied a motion to dismiss earlier this month.
“personal reputational harm she attributes to ‘direct encouragement and inappropriate interference’ by McArdle”
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