Looks to me like he was part of the coup, but then panicked and was trying to act like he was a good guy instead. Probably received some threats from his former partners in crime, so now trying to play both sides. Basically in a lot of trouble at this point, either way.
From what Byrne said, it was Barr “sneaking up like a submarine” or words to that effect. Since Byrne had nothing to say about any of this until that supposedly happened, I question his motives and sincerity.
As far as Weisman goes, he was so out of control and strong armed, that people would have probably flipped, if there had been any there actually there. Jury still out on what Barr and Durham are still up to, if anything, but Byrne’s coming out if not flipping is encouraging to some degree.
There is a strong subtext of buyer’s remorse and not wanting to be the bad guy in Bryne’s presentations. I think he realizes he was duped and used. He’s embarrassed, and he’s also a guy with a history of twice “volunteering” to help solve crimes of personal interest to him.
I’ve long entertained the thought that many persons used in the coup (Lovegood, Downer, even Halper and Mifsud) were given specific assignments, but did not know the ultimate purpose. They could easily have been given to believe they were sounding out genuine security threats. Maybe I’ve read too many spy stories, but these people come across as “loose” assets of a general Western IC network, used to being called in occasionally as role players for one government or another. The top dogs would not explain the whole operation, and might deliberately mislead the bit players.
By his claims, Byrne self-reported his association with the dodgy Maria Butina, because of his prior volunteer situations. IMHO, Strzok used him opportunistically thereafter.