Wandrea' ArShaye Moss is an American election official from Georgia who was employed by Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections from 2011 to 2022, handling voter registration, absentee ballots, and election tabulation. Following the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Georgia, she became a target of false voter fraud allegations, which led to widespread harassment and public testimony before the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Moss received a Profile in Courage Award and a Presidential Citizens Medal.
Wandrea' ArShaye Moss | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Moss in 2023 | |
| Born | Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Election official |
| Years active | 2011–2022 |
| Mother | Ruby Freeman |
| Awards | Profile in Courage Award (2022) Presidential Citizens Medal (2023) |
Early life
editMoss was born and raised in Georgia.[1][2] Her mother, Ruby Freeman, and her grandmother both worked in county government, with Freeman employed by Fulton County, Georgia and her grandmother retiring from DeKalb County, Georgia.[1][2]
Career
editMoss began working as a temporary election worker for Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections in September 2011.[1] Initially hired for the November 2011 election, she continued to be called back for subsequent elections before transitioning into a long-term role.[1] She became a full-time employee in 2017.[3] Her responsibilities included processing voter registration and absentee ballot applications, coordinating election mailings, and assisting in ballot tabulation.[1] She frequently worked directly with voters, providing support for completing registration and ballot requests.[1] Moss held the position of registration supervisor beginning in August 2020.[4] In this role, she oversaw the tabulation process for absentee ballots during the November 2020 General Election.[4]
During the 2020 election, Moss's mother, Freeman, was hired as a temporary election worker under Moss's supervision.[4] On election night, November 3, 2020, Moss and her team worked at State Farm Arena, where the tabulation center was located.[4][2] According to official investigations, Moss adhered to established procedures, including storing ballot boxes under tables to ensure continuity for the next day's work.[4] Later that evening, following instructions from a supervisor, Moss and remaining staff resumed the scanning process to complete pending work.[4]
Moss worked for Fulton County until April 2022.[3] She received a 2022 Profile in Courage Award.[5] In January 2023, Moss was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by U.S. president Joe Biden.[6]
False voter fraud allegations
editAfter the election, Moss and Freeman were accused of election fraud by public figures, including Rudy Giuliani, who falsely claimed that they handled fraudulent ballots at the tabulation center.[4][2] The allegations were widely discredited following thorough investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.[4][2] These investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing by Moss or Freeman, confirming that all procedures were conducted properly.[7][8]
These accusations led to threats and harassment directed at Moss, her family, and colleagues.[2] Moss testified before the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.[9][4] She described the threats and harassment she faced due to the false accusations, which included racist messages and disruptions to her personal life.[9][2]
Moss and her mother filed defamation tort lawsuits against individuals and media outlets that spread the false claims.[2] They received settlements from One America News Network in 2022 and The Gateway Pundit in 2024.[10][11] In November 2024, Moss and Freeman began receiving assets from Giuliani, including a watch collection, jewelry, and a vintage car, as partial payment of a $148 million defamation judgment against him for spreading false claims that they committed election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.[12] The judgment followed years of legal battles and delays, during which Giuliani’s actions caused personal and professional harm to Moss and Freeman.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Transcribed Interview of Wandrea Arshaye Moss". United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via GovInfo.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hendry, Erica R. (2022-06-21). "Who is Wandrea ArShaye 'Shaye' Moss and why is she testifying before the Jan. 6 committee?". PBS News. Archived from the original on 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ a b "Wandrea' ArShaye Moss". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Humes, Gilbert C. (March 7, 2023). "Report of Investigation: Fulton County-Poll Worker Fraud" (PDF). Georgia Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Niesse, Mark (April 22, 2022). "Fulton elections worker receives Profile in Courage Award". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Darnell, Tim (2023-01-05). "Fulton election workers Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss receiving medals from President Biden". Atlanta News First. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Levine, Sam (2023-06-23). "Two Georgia election workers cleared of wrongdoing in 2020 elections". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Cheney, Kyle; Gerstein, Josh (December 12, 2023). "'I was afraid for my life': Ga. poll worker describes fear and threats after Giuliani's false fraud claims". Politico. Archived from the original on 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ a b Shivaram, Deepa (June 22, 2022). "Shaye Moss staffed an election office in Georgia. Then she was targeted by Trump". NPR. Archived from the original on 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ Brumback, Kate (2022-05-12). "OAN dismissed from election workers' suit after settlement". AP News. Archived from the original on 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Amy, Jeff (2024-10-11). "Georgia election workers settle defamation lawsuit against conservative website". AP News. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Eileen (November 15, 2024). "Georgia Poll Workers Defamed by Giuliani Receive Some of His Assets". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-15.