Ex-Overstock CEO Byrne Talks Timing Of Resignation With Fox, 'Political Espionage'

Former Overstock.com Inc OSTK CEO Patrick Byrne stepped down Thursday after two decades of running the company. His resignation is quite bizarre and includes references to the "deep state" and Clinton family. Hours after his resignation, the executive appeared on Fox Business' "Bulls & Bears" to discuss his decision. 

The Timing

Overstock held a party Tuesday to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and now is a "perfect time" to resign, as everything is in a "perfect place," Byrne told Fox Business.

Most notably, the tZero blockchain business was just voted as a potential winner in the security token space, and the company oversees 22 other leading blockchain assets, the former exec said. 

The core retail business returned to EBITDA profit in the last quarter, Byrne said. In addition, the retail business boasts the most numbers of GAAP profitable years of any B2C e-commerce company, he said. 

The decision to resign is his alone, Byrne said, adding that he is no way being "chased out" by the board or other entities within the company.

'Apparatus Of Washington'

Byrne's resignation follows earlier reports of his involvement in an FBI probe given his relationship with a Russian citizen, Maria Butina, who was convicted of wrongdoing related to the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The executive said in an Aug. 12 Fox Business interview that the FBI investigation is "all about political espionage." We will soon become witness to the "biggest scandal in American history," Byrne said. 

"I have been warned that if I come forward to America, the apparatus of Washington is going to grind me into dust," he said Thursday. "And that's going to happen and I have to get that away from the company. It's only right."

Overstock shares were down 0.6% at $20.99 at the time of publication Friday. 

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Screenshot courtesy of Fox Business Network.