Overstock CEO resigns, promptly goes on media blitz claiming Peter Strzok gave him orders in deep state political espionage

Overstock founder and CEO Patrick Byrne stepped down Thursday morning, but the billionaire didn't take the rest of the day off.

Instead, he went on a media blitz sharing further details on his "deep state" involvement that caused him to leave his firm, and says former FBI agent Peter Strzok pulled him into what was — unbeknownst to Byrne — a political espionage operation targeting President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio.

What are the details?

Last month, investigative reporter Sara Carter reported that Byrne reached out to the FBI in 2015 after meeting Russian gun-rights activist Maria Butina and questioning her motives. Byrne says after being given the all-clear, he became involved in a romantic relationship with Butina, and later rekindled the intimate relationship at the behest of federal law enforcement. The young woman has since pleaded guilty to not registering as a foreign agent.

Last week, Byrne confirmed in a news release to shareholders that he had, as Carter reported, assisted in what he thought were "legitimate law enforcement efforts" with "what are now known as the 'Clinton Investigation' and the 'Russian Investigation.'"

Over the following days, CNBC reported, Overstock's shares tumbled more than 30 percent. Thursday morning, Byrne resigned, and his company's stock price rebounded.

That afternoon, Byrne first made his bombshell announcement on Fox Business Network that Peter Strzok was the FBI operative who gave him orders during 2015 and 2016 as part of a deep state conspiracy, claiming, "I know much more than I should know."

Byrne was brought to tears discussing how his mentor, Warren Buffet, pressed him to come forward with what he knew, before disclosing that he was offered a $1 billion bribe to keep quiet. Byrne did not disclose the source of the bribe.

Exclusive: Former Overstock CEO speaks out on his resignationwww.youtube.com

Thursday evening, Byrne went on Fox News echoing the same story he recalled to Fox Business Network. He told host Martha MacCallum that "the FBI is barely involved in this, it's all the top," before saying his orders came from since-fired FBI agent Peter Strzok, since-fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, since-fired FBI Director James Comey, and others.

Byrne reiterated to MacCallum that "this was all political espionage conducted against Hillary Clinton, [Marco] Rubio, [Ted] Cruz, and [Donald] Trump."

The former CEO also revealed that he, himself, "helped them set up Hillary Clinton to be blackmailed." Byrne disclosed later in the interview that the "top" officials he referenced (and refused to name) were in the Obama administration.

Overstock CEO resigns after disclosing romance with Russian agentwww.youtube.com

In yet another interview Thursday night, Byrne reiterated to CNN's Chris Cuomo that he was told James Comey was giving him orders during the Obama administration. The Daily Wire's Ryan Saavedra shared the footage on Twitter.