Overstock CEO Claims He Was Duped Into apos;political Espionage apos;

Overstock.com's former CEO last night claimed the FBI duped him in the 'biggest scandal in American history' and asked him to rekindle a relationship with a Russian agent.
Patrick Byrne resigned from the firm yesterday after its shares tanked in the wake of claims about the bureau he first made two weeks ago.
But shortly after standing down, he did a round of TV interviews in which he stood by his allegations that the FBI used him and explained them further.
Now a Department of Justice source has backed his claims because they contain  specific operational details.

A former FBI agent has also said some aspects are true.
Byrne claimed the bureau ignored his warning of Russian infiltration in the 2016 presidential election because they wanted to 'spray it all over the Republican Party'.
The American businessman said the intelligence agency ignored his cautions over Maria Butina to begin with, but then asked him to rekindle a romantic relationship with her in the summer before the election.
Butina pleaded guilty last year to a conspiracy charge and admitted she covertly gathered intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other groups at the direction of a former Russian lawmaker.
Patrick Byrne (right) said the intelligence agency first ignored his cautions over Maria Butina (left), but then asked him to rekindle a romantic relationship with her in the summer before the election
Byrne's claims come hours after he resigned as CEO of Overstock.com, which was days after an explosive press release called 'Comments on Deep State'.
The 57-year-old said in the document that an the FBI probe into links between Russia and the 2016 election is 'all about political espionage' and that 'we are about to see the biggest scandal in American history'.
Byrne met Butina at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas in 2015 and she reportedly asked him to disguise their discussions about top-ranking Russians as a romantic relationship.
He said he was intrigued by the grad student but she started asking to meet people involved in Hillary Clinton's and Donald Trump's election campaigns.
Due to unease over this, coupled with his security clearance, Byrne reported her to the FBI.
E-commerce pioneer Byrne (left) met Butina (right) at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas in 2015 and she reportedly asked him to disguise their discussions about top-ranking Russians as a romantic relationship
It was not his first time dealing with the agency, as he claimed he assisted them when his friend and NBA player Brian Williams was murdered, as well as to 'shake up Wall Street a decade ago'.
Byrne said the FBI first encouraged the relationship, before appearing disinterested with the informationAmazon, you can speak to us at our own webpage.