Trump ally who denies 2020 election results threatens law enforcement
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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."
{snip}
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/
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wolfie001
(3,000 posts)That is all
orthoclad
(4,019 posts)"Byrne, who said he was participating in the event from Azerbaijan, accused law enforcement of committing treason and claimed he had been hacking Venezuelas government for two years."
Confessing to felonies from his bolthole next to Putin while claiming to be overthrowing yet ANOTHER government.
He was in the infamous Dec 2020 midnight meeting in the White House. Wasn't he the guy that the White House lawyer wanted to know what the hell he was doing there?
orthoclad
(4,019 posts)"
Byrne said Friday that his comments were obviously a metaphor.
"
When will DOJ stop letting these guys get away with "metaphors" and nopologies? Is someone still hoping for a lifetime job with a free RV and great travel bennies?
LudwigPastorius
(10,213 posts)He knows the law doesn't apply to the very rich the same way it does to you and me.
electric_blue68
(16,723 posts)ck4829
(35,519 posts)Emile
(27,383 posts)This is a duplicate of the same news story from an earlier post.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143279795