Patrick M. Byrne: Difference between revisions

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In 2022, [[PBS]] reported that Byrne had been informed that several of the persons he promoted as stating that Trump was defrauded were lying, but that he chose to promote their words anyways. He also told a reporter from PBS that he "could live with" potentially "destroying the country", referring to the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-powerful-conservatives-pushed-the-big-lie-that-the-2020-election-was-fraudulent |publisher=PBS |title=How powerful conservatives pushed the 'Big Lie' that the 2020 election was fraudulent |date=April 26, 2022 }}</ref> During the 2022 Midterm Elections, Byrne was a major donor to candidates that ran on the premise that the 2020 election was not legitimate.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/big-donors-working-overturn-2020-election-are-backing-election-denial | title=Big Donors Working to Overturn the 2020 Election Are Backing Election Denial Candidates in 2022 &#124; Brennan Center for Justice | date=November 2022 }}</ref> Following the election, he again financed efforts by candidates to overturn their lost election bids, including [[Kari Lake]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/lake-lawsuit-could-extend-beyond-hobbs-swearing-in/75-3791c7c0-4b31-4fa6-b221-93dd65fb0e83 |date=December 13, 2022 |publisher=NBC 12 News |title=Kari Lake's legal challenge to Katie Hobbs' victory could drag on beyond Hobbs' swearing-in as governor |author=Brahm Resnik}}</ref>
 
In June 2024, tax filing documents which were recovered by [[Issue One]] revealed that Byrne and [[Michael Flynn]]'s non-profit group American Project made money off of conspiracy theories.<ref name=americaprojectrevenue>{{cite news|url=https://issueone.org/press/new-tax-filing-details-how-election-deniers-profit-from-group-founded-by-conspiracy-theorists-patrick-byrne-and-michael-flynn/|title=New tax filing details how election deniers profit from group founded by conspiracy theorists|first=Cory|last=Combs|publisher=Issue One|date=June 24, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, Byrne himself collected a salary of $95,000 from America Project, and the organization itself was able to pay a real estate linked to Byrne $192,000.<ref name=americaprojectrevenue /> This money revenue was made in spite of the fact that Byrne previously told the [[January 6 Committee]] that he did not make money from The American Project.<ref name=americaprojectrevenue /> Other people involved with the organization had been paid large salaries as well,<ref name=americaprojectrevenue /> In 2024, Byrne threatened to torture law enforcement involved in his law suits with "piano wire and a blowtorch".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/expressly-prohibited-judge-in-dominion-suit-has-abundantly-clear-message-for-kraken-lawyer-and-ex-overstock-ceo-on-tina-peters-trial/ |publisher=Law & Crime |title=‘Expressly prohibited’: Judge in Dominion suit has ‘abundantly clear’ message for ‘Kraken’ lawyer and ex-Overstock CEO on Tina Peters trial |author=MATT NAHAM |date=July 30, 2024}}</ref> That year he also admitted to hacking the government computers of [[Venezuela]] used in their elections, confirming reports from the country that he had been involved in what was described by Byrne as criminal activity against the regime, which he stated included "at least one act of war".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/voter-fraud-and-suppression/election-denier-patrick-byrne-claims-hes-conducted-illegal-activity |publisher=Media Matters |title=Election denier Patrick Byrne claims he's conducted “illegal activity ... hacking the government of Venezuela” |date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
 
===Anti-vaccination beliefs===