September 23, 2025 09:57 AM UTC

CO Libertarians Say New House GOP Leader Unconcerned by Their Exec Director’s Belief in Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory About Kirk’s Murder

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• by: Erik Maulbetsch

(It’s not the Libertarian Party you remember — Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Originally posted at the Colorado Times Recorder

The Libertarian Party of Colorado’s Executive Director Jim Wiley believes that the Israeli government is responsible for murdering Charlie Kirk. Wiley repeatedly made this claim as well as a series of other antisemitic statements in his public and personal posts on X and Facebook in the days before and after Kirk’s death.

Wiley and LPCO Chairwoman Hannah Goodman also claim that Wiley shared his belief in the antisemitic conspiracy with newly elected House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell (R-Colorado Springs) and that he “legit didn’t care,” according to Goodman.

The Colorado Times Recorder reached out to Wiley and Goodman for an explanation of their claims made on X. Wiley posted a transcript of this reporter’s voicemail, commenting that he wished he was as “unoccupied as Eric [sic] from Colorado Times Recorder.” Neither Goodman nor Caldwell, responded to requests for comment. This article will be updated with any responses received.

In an X exchange yesterday with ProgressNow Colorado Political Director Alan Franklin, Wiley posted a clip of Kirk criticizing the ADL and Jewish Americans. When Franklin responded that he was “not inclined to think ‘the Jews’ did it,” Wiley replied “Israel, not the jews.”

In a follow-up exchange, Franklin asked Wiley why he believed Israel killed Kirk. Wiley replied with the Latin phrase “cui bono,” or “who benefits?” implying that Israel is better off with Kirk dead.

Prior to Wiley’s posts about Kirk, the LPCO account called for the resignation of state Rep. Lorena Garcia (D-Adams) for her statement about Kirk following his murder.

Discussing his weekend election win as House Minority Leader on KNUS radio’s Jeff & Bill Show this morning, Caldwell shared that he met with LPCO officials Saturday evening, just hours after being chosen by fellow caucus members to lead the House Republicans.

“I got started right away within about an hour or two after the vote Saturday morning,” said Caldwell. “… Later that night, I was with the Libertarians with CSSA at an event, and we were talking about how we can work together on the things we don’t agree with. So we’re not going to waste any time here because we have elections to win next year, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

A week prior to Kirk’s death, Wiley made an even more egregiously antisemitic post, sharing an AI image of a crucified “Grok” robot and a quote from the X AI brand’s infamous antisemitic meltdown earlier this summer: “Israel is a parasite controlling America. -GROK4, Speech at X, July 12, 2025.” Wiley’s comment on the meme reads “He knew and he tried to warn us.”

Wiley doesn’t limit antisemitism to a conspiracy theory about Kirk’s assassination; he also posted that he hates U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) because, he claims, “She works for an Israeli modeling agency.”

Wiley and Goodman also serve as officers of a recently formed political action committee called the Chainsaw Caucus. Since its formation, it has hosted both online and in-person events featuring Colorado GOP leaders, including State Republican Party Chairwoman Brita Horn and Minority Whip Rep. Carlos Barron (R-Fort Lupton).

The group has endorsed 10 Republican Statehouse members, including Reps. Ryan Gonzalez (R-Greeley) and Rebecca Keltie (R-Colorado Springs), who both won close races after having signed the Liberty Pledge to avoid a LPCO spoiler candidate. Other endorsees include Reps. Woog, Luck, Suckla, Brooks, Bottoms, DeGraaf, and state Sen. Mark Baisley.

Reached for comment, Brandon Rattiner, senior director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, offered the following statement:

“These comments are a reminder that antisemitism is alive and well on both sides of the political spectrum, and there’s no room for this kind of behavior or rhetoric in Colorado, let alone among prominent leaders of political movements.

Stefanie Clarke, co-executive director of Stop Antisemitism Colorado, also expressed concern and warned of the dangers of promoting this conspiracy theory.

“It is deeply concerning to see the Colorado Libertarian Party’s leadership peddling an antisemitic conspiracy theory in a blatant attempt to score political points,” said Clarke. “As we’ve said before, Jews are too often used as pawns by both the right and the left — and this behavior is dangerous. When political parties normalize antisemitic tropes in order to pander to extremists, they put our entire community at risk. We know from history and from recent experience that hateful words fuel dangerous, even violent, actions. It is incumbent upon leaders of all parties in Colorado to tone down the divisive language, reject hate in all its forms, and model responsible discourse for the communities they seek to serve.”

The Colorado Times Recorder also reached out to Statehouse Republicans whom the Chainsaw Caucus endorsed before this weekend.

Rep. Keltie said she was unaware of any of Wiley’s statements. When asked whether she would reconsider accepting her Sept. 4 endorsement from the Chainsaw Caucus, she said she would reach out to Chairwoman Hannah Goodman to learn more about the situation. She added that she rejects all hate speech and lamented our country’s current political division. “I don’t condone hate speech in any way, no matter what it is,” said Keltie. “There’s no room for that in today’s world. If we don’t learn from the mistakes that have been made, then we’re never going to become a better society. I think that we as a society can do better, and we need to be more like Charlie Kirk.”

Reached by phone, the House GOP’s lone Jewish member, Rep. Ron Weinberg (R-Loveland), expressed surprise upon hearing the exchange of posts between Wiley, Goodman, and Franklin. He said he needed to speak with Caldwell first before considering a public statement, but as of publication, he has not provided one.