Libertarian Party Exposes Angela McArdle's Financial Misconduct: Report Reveals Shocking Details
SIC finds Angela McArdle hid conflicts of interest and mismanaged contracts, costing the party thousands; LNC bars her from future roles.
So, the Angela McArdle special investigative committee (SIC) report is now public, following the Libertarian Party’s LNC vote last night to do so and to take certain actions to protect the party from her in the future. I wrote about the allegations back in February 2025. The SIC determined that McArdle violated LNC policies, D.C. nonprofit law, and her fiduciary duties through intentional concealment and mismanagement. Her actions resulted in significant financial losses and reputational harm to the Libertarian Party.
The Special Investigatory Committee (SIC) report, dated June 9, 2025, was commissioned by the Libertarian National Committee (LNC) to investigate allegations of misconduct, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and potential legal violations by Angela McArdle, the former LNC Chair. The investigation focused on her business dealings with Freedom Calls, LLC, and Swing Vote Strategist (SVS), both of which were linked to her domestic partner, Austin Padgett, and her role in organizing the Rescue the Republic (RTR) rally. This summary incorporates two resolutions passed at the LNC meeting on June 9, 2025, addressing McArdle’s actions and proposing future safeguards.
One of the major issues identified in the report is that McArdle allegedly failed to disclose her domestic partner's ownership of a Delaware-registered LLC called Freedom Call, which was operating as a call center for the Libertarian Party to raise funds. This was done without LNC approval, nor was her relationship with Austin Padgett. This action cost the Libertarian Party just shy of $50,000 over the year, while bringing in only around $2,500. Pretty pathetic numbers, and well below industry standards.
Ownership of Freedom Calls LLC was obscured through Delaware registration, misleading W-9 forms, and McArdle’s portrayal of Padgett as a “volunteer liaison.” Evidence of professional-quality services was absent.
Another item of interest discovered through the SIC report was that SVS, another Padgett-created LLC, paid McArdle $32,000 from the Kennedy Victory Fund (KVF) for affiliate onboarding work, which she failed to disclose in accordance with LNC policy. After resigning on January 25, 2025, McArdle continued to use her LNC Chair title, potentially not disclosing to KVF stakeholders that she was no longer the Chair.
In total, the SIC report revealed financial anomalies, including $49,600 paid to Freedom Calls, $9,225 to Pittura Group, and $32,465.38 to Padgett, all with poor documentation.
But the investigation is not done. The LNC has directed further investigation into McArdle’s use of Party credit card(s). The LNC has now instructed her that she is no longer permitted to use the LNC Chair title; they will not litigate against her; and they have declared her unfit for future Party office and banned contracts with her, Padgett, or their entities.
In addition, McArdle used her party title and LP email address when organizing a rally and other communications, which made it clear she was more supportive of electing Donald Trump for president over the Libertarian Party candidate, Chase Oliver. However, she did publicly endorse Oliver at least once on video.
The SIC report and the LNC have concluded that she deceived Party members and those on the LNC, as well as its executive director, that she is unfit for any office in the party and should not be trusted with donor funds. Last night, the LNC passed the resolution stating:
“Whereas the Special Investigatory Committee finds that former Chair Angela McArdle violated her fiduciary duty to the Libertarian Party by concealing conflicts of interest and misusing donor funds, be it hereby resolved that the Libertarian National Committee deems Angela McArdle unfit to serve on the Libertarian National Committee, as an affiliate leader, or as a candidate representing the Libertarian Party. Be it further resolved that the Libertarian National Committee encourages the Bylaws Committee to review and propose bylaws changes that would codify the handling of members found to have engaged in financial malfeasance and/or other egregious actions."
To say McArdle’s tenure was polarizing would be an understatement, most notably for inviting Donald Trump to the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, which some praised for securing a pardon for Ross Ulbricht. However, at this point, it is unclear what her role truly was in the efforts of others to free Ross Ulbricht. Was her role as critical as she makes it out to be?
