Former Georgia election employee shares impact of Trump and Giuliani conspiracy - NPR

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Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., greets Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified at the condo opt for committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection on Tuesday as committee members Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-unwell., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wait their turn. Jacquelyn Martin/AP disguise caption

toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., greets Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election employee, after she testified on the condo select committee investigating the Jan. 6 revolt on Tuesday as committee participants Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-sick., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wait their flip.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The life of Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election employee who became the goal of a conspiracy theory spread by former President Donald Trump and his attorney Rudy Giuliani, modified after the 2020 election, with violent threats toward her and her family, forcing Moss to hide her identification and leave her job.

The fabricated accusations from Trump and Giuliani said Moss, who had been a Fulton County Elections department worker for the reason that 2017, had processed fake ballots for Joe Biden.

Moss testified about her experiences in Congress Tuesday, at the fourth hearing of the house opt for committee investigating the Jan. 6 rebellion at the Capitol. The listening to concentrated on Trump's efforts to pressure state officers to overturn the election results in his favor.

"or not it's turned my lifestyles the wrong way up. I not give out my company card... I don't need anybody realizing my identify," Moss informed the committee. "I do not go to the food market at all. I have not been anywhere in any respect. I've gained about 60 pounds. I just do not do nothing anymore," she delivered, wiping away a tear.

"I 2nd wager every little thing that I do. or not it's affected my life in a tremendous approach — in each method. All as a result of lies."

Moss needed to go into hiding and change her appearance after she all started receiving threats. She finally left her job.

past this yr, Moss acquired the John F. Kennedy Profiles in braveness Award, together with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the lead Republican on the condo committee, and Rusty Bowers, the Speaker of the condominium in Arizona in 2020, who refused to bow to pressure from Trump to overturn the state's election consequences. Bowers also testified at Tuesday's hearing.

The threats Moss and her household obtained have been racist

In a telephone name leaked to newshounds days before the rebel, Trump was berating Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the state's election outcomes. all over the call, the former president outlined Moss' mother, Ruby Freeman, who become temping as an election employee along with her daughter, 18 instances.

"i'll take on anyone you desire in regards to Ruby Freeman, and her attractive daughter, a very stunning younger girl, i am certain. but Ruby Freeman, i will be able to take on anyone you desire," Trump pointed out to Raffensperger.

And in a digital hearing with GOP lawmakers in Georgia, Giuliani outlined each Moss and Freeman.

"They should still were puzzled already. Their areas of work, their buildings may still were searched," he observed.

In his false accusations, Giuliani observed that Moss surpassed her mother a thumb force "like they have been vials of heroin or cocaine." in fact, Moss observed in her testimony that her mom had surpassed her a ginger mint.

Moss additionally talked about Tuesday she hadn't customary about threats being made towards her by using those that believed Trump and Giuliani's allegations until considered one of her supervisors known as her into his office and advised her to investigate her facebook account, which she talked about she didn't commonly use.

"i am just panicky at this aspect, as a result of this has never came about to me and my mom is concerned," Moss told the committee. "I went to [Facebook messages] and it changed into simply lots of horrible things there... loads of threats, wishing death upon me, telling me that i may be in detention center with my mother and announcing issues like 'Be blissful its 2020 and never 1920.'"

"loads of them were racist," Moss mentioned of the messages. "lots them were simply hateful."

Moss and Freeman say they've lost their experience of protection

Moss pointed out she blamed herself and her career choice for the attacks on her mom, and threats towards her son and her grandmother, as neatly. somebody confirmed up at her grandmother's door and noted they had been there to make a citizen's arrest, Moss spoke of.

"I felt horrible for deciding upon this job, for being the one who desires to support," she mentioned, "I felt it was my fault for placing my family in this situation."

while Freeman attended Tuesday's hearing, she did not testify in grownup however the committee performed video from past testimony to the committee.

Freeman observed that she had to be moved from her condo because of threats brought on by Trump. and he or she doesn't use her identify in public, after years of being referred to as "woman Ruby" in her neighborhood and for her small enterprise.

"I do not introduce myself by identify anymore, I get fearful after I stumble upon somebody who in the food market who says my identify. i'm concerned about who's listening. I get apprehensive when I have to provide my name for meals orders," she talked about.

"I've misplaced my identify. I've misplaced my acceptance. I've misplaced my experience of protection," Freeman spoke of.