Trump ally who denies 2020 election results threatens law enforcement

Source: Washington Post

DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
Trump ally who denies 2020 election results threatens law enforcement

Patrick Byrne, former CEO of Overstock, said officials would face 'a piano wire and a blowtorch' if a case against a former Colorado elections official continues.



Patrick Byrne speaks during a news conference in Orlando on Feb. 25, 2022. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

By Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Updated July 26, 2024 at 6:56 p.m. EDT Published July 26, 2024 at 6:38 p.m. EDT

Patrick Byrne, who has funded efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 election, said in an online forum Thursday that law enforcement would face "a piano wire and a blowtorch" if they did not drop a case against an ally.

Byrne, a former CEO of online retailer Overstock, used the phrase half a dozen times Thursday as he participated in a nearly three-hour-long event on X Spaces. His remarks came amid heightened worries about political violence, and he acknowledged during the event that his references to strangling or blowtorching officials were threatening and could be considered felonies. On Friday, he downplayed his comments, saying he had been speaking metaphorically and is committed to peace.

The "Cyber Crisis: Saving Tina Peters" event was aimed at rallying support for the former clerk of Mesa County, Colo., who faces charges accusing her of tampering with election equipment three years ago. Peters has pleaded not guilty, and her case goes to trial next week.

Byrne called out law enforcement and prosecutors during the forum, saying they would face violence if they did not drop the case. ... "If you have any brains at all, which I'm not sure they do, they should be throwing in the towel and just surrendering and dropping this case against Tina because those who don't are going to end up facing a piano wire and a blowtorch before this is over if I have anything to do with it," Byrne said. "So I know that's probably another felony, but f--- it -- threatening them like that -- but there we are."

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Spencer S. Hsu and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.

By Patrick Marley
Patrick Marley writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest for The Washington Post. He previously covered the Wisconsin Capitol for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twitter https://x.com/patrickdmarley

By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Yvonne Wingett Sanchez writes about voting issues in Arizona for The Washington Post. She previously covered politics for the Arizona Republic. Twitter https://x.com/yvonnewingett

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/26/patrick-byrne-tina-peters-threats/