A Republican Georgia state senator has been arrested after trying to enter the state House chamber even though he had been banned from the area.
Police pushed state Sen. Colton Moore to the ground and arrested him as he attempted to enter the chamber, later taking him to the Fulton County Jail. Moore was trying to attend Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R-GA) State of the State address.
Moore’s ban originated from statements he made in 2024 about former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, who died in 2022. He called Ralston “corrupt” as the Georgia Senate deliberated whether to rename a building in his honor.
“This body is about to memorialize, in my opinion, one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders that we are ever going to see in my lifetime,” he said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in 2019 that a review found Ralston delayed court cases to benefit his law practice’s clients. An independent researcher found that from 2010 through 2019, Ralston delayed 226 cases a total of 966 times. The delays weakened the prosecution’s cases and allowed possible criminals to run free on bond.
Moore’s remarks were denounced by House Speaker Jon Burns as “some of the vilest that you can make about a good man,” and he barred him from the chamber.
Moore said he would defy the ban on Wednesday. “I will NEVER back down,” Moore wrote. “I will ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator.”
He attempted to enter the chamber before being arrested. “This is a joint session of the General Assembly. Your House rules do not apply,” Moore said. “I’m going into the chamber.”
Georgia Republican leaders were split on Moore’s arrest.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon said he was “deeply disappointed” that Moore was denied admission to the chamber and “shocked” that he was taken into custody.
“It was not only legally appropriate to admit him to today’s proceedings — it was simply the right thing to do,” McKoon wrote in a statement to FOX 5. “Our focus should be on the excellent agenda being outlined by Gov. Kemp today to continue to make Georgia the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family — not internal conflicts.”
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones agreed with McKoon, suggesting Moore should have been allowed in. “Whatever personal differences Sen. Moore has with others, he is a member of the body over which I preside. All elected 56 senators and 180 representatives deserve the opportunity to fulfill their responsibility to attend joint sessions of the General Assembly. There is real work to be done this session, and the focus should be on delivering for the people of Georgia instead of personal grievances and egos.”
Burns had an entirely different take, slamming Moore’s behavior.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“The situation outside of the House chamber this morning was incredibly unfortunate,” he said. “The senator refused to cooperate with doorkeepers and law enforcement and created a dangerous situation when he chose to use force against our law enforcement officers, dedicated doorkeepers, and House staff. As you saw today, the integrity and decorum of this House are non-negotiable — period.”
Jail records showed Moore was booked on misdemeanor charges of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
