I need to disagree. What was done was a deliberate attempt to cause damage to the environment of the forum itself and cause trouble for those who she believed were moderators. It is just not right to even suggest that particular individuals are moderators--whether they are or aren't--because that paints targets on those members any time a discontented poster does not get their own way. The moderators are volunteers. They deserve to be treated respectfully, even if you disagree with them, because the owner of the forum tired of the chore of playing cop and light moderation by volunteers is/was a substitute for just shutting the forum down. You don't ask to be made a moderator, you are asked if you would be willing. If I were asked, I would say 'no' because of the time involved and the seemingly inevitable criticism.
To have represented to others via PM that suspension was due to something else is dishonest.
In the past offenses such as this have led to exclusion from the community--not just suspension. We are all stressed by COVID whether we think we are or not. There are good conversations that this member brings to the forum and there are whinings where she complains about others rather than just toggling them and getting on with her life. "Unfair and heavy handed moderation" is not at all what is happening here. There is an option for salvation being offered that is not unreasonable due to the stresses we are all under. The point is to make certain that there is an understanding that the moderators are NOT your personal hit men. The forum norms and rules are to be abided by. And as far as I am concerned, this individual needs to make a very private and sincere apology to those members named as it certainly was her intent to cause them grief.