The life of Shaye Moss, a former Georgia election worker, changed dramatically after the 2020 election. Moss and her family received violent threats after she became the target of a conspiracy theory promoted by former President Trump and his attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The vile threats and attacks on Moss compelled her to conceal her identity and even quit her job.
The conspiracy theories from Trump and his associates suggested Moss processed fake ballots for Joe Biden in the last election in Fulton County, where she had been an Elections Department Official since 2017.
Moss appeared before the House Select Committee on the January 6th Capitol insurrection. She testified about Trump’s efforts to cajole state officials to overturn election results in his favor.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
"It's turned my life upside down. I no longer give out my business card... I don't want anyone knowing my name," Moss told the committee. "I don't go to the grocery store at all. I haven't been anywhere at all. I've gained about 60 pounds. I just don't do nothing anymore," she added, wiping away a tear.
"I second guess everything that I do. It's affected my life in a major way — in every way. All because of lies."
Moss had to run into hiding and change her looks after she started getting threats which led her to quit her job.
But Moss’s integrity, courage and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She received the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award, along with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the lead Republican on the House committee, and Rusty Bowers, the Speaker of the House in Arizona in 2020, who refused to kowtow to pressure from Trump to overturn the state's election results.
Moss and Freeman say they've lost their sense of security
"I felt horrible for picking this job, for being the one who wants to help," Moss said. "I felt it was my fault for putting my family in this situation."
Moss said someone went to her grandmother’s home to perform a citizen’s arrest.
Moss’s mother, RubyFreeman, who also worked the 2020 election, appeared at Tuesday's hearing, and the committee played a video of her testimony.
Just like Moss, Freeman had to be moved from her house due to threats brought on by Trump.
She has also had to change her name, after years of being known as "Lady Ruby" in her community and for her small business.
"I don't introduce myself by name anymore, I get nervous when I bump into someone who I know in the grocery store who says my name. I'm worried about who's listening. I get nervous when I have to give my name for food orders," she said.
"I've lost my name. I've lost my reputation. I've lost my sense of security," Freeman said.