A Republican, pro-Trump state senator from Georgia was arrested Thursday while trying to enter the House chamber.
Dramatic video showed 31-year-old Colton Moore being pushed to the floor as he fought to gain entry to Governor Brian Kemp's (R) state of the state speech. Moore was banned from the chamber last year for disparaging the late Speaker David Ralston, a Republican.
Moore's arrest comes after a long feud between Moore and Georgia Republicans including Kemp and Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R).
In a letter to Burns, Moore had warned he would attend Thursday's joint session of the General Assembly, calling Burns a "tyrant."
"I will NEVER back down," Moore wrote on X, sharing the letter. "I will ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator."
A scuffle ensued Thursday as Moore tried to enter the House chambers, only to be blocked by a doorman who appeared to push Moore to the ground.
"This is a joint session of the General Assembly. Your House rules do not apply," Moore said. "I'm going into the chamber."
Moore was arrested by state troopers and booked at the Fulton County jail on charges of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, a misdemeanor.
Senator Colton Moore, who exposed and defeated corrupt District Attorney Fani Willis last year, has been arrested by the Anti-Trump Speaker of the Georgia House.
Colton is being held in the same Atlanta jail as President Trump.
We are working to ensure his expedient release.… pic.twitter.com/hRA2gM54FD
— Sen. Colton Moore (@realColtonMoore) January 16, 2025
Moore ruffled feathers last year when he opposed naming a building after former Speaker David Ralston, whom he called "one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders that we are ever going to see in my lifetime." Ralston was accused of using his position as Speaker to delay court cases in which he had an interest as a defense lawyer.
Speaker Burns called Moore's comments "some of the vilest that you can make about a good man" and banned him from the House chamber.
In 2023, Senate Republicans suspended Moore from the caucus for attacking Republicans who refused to impeach Fulton County DA Fani Willis over her prosecution of Donald Trump. Governor Kemp dismissed Moore's effort as a "grifter scam" and said Willis had done nothing to merit her removal.
Speaker Burns blamed Moore for the "unfortunate" incident that unfolded Thursday, but Georgia Republican chairman Josh McKoon condemned Moore's arrest and said he should have been admitted to the chamber.
"It was not only legally appropriate to admit him to today’s proceedings — it was simply the right thing to do," McKoon wrote.
Moore has also received support from Georgia Democrats, who say his rights were violated.
"While Colton Moore and I don’t agree on much, the Speaker nor the doorkeeper should be allowed to prevent him from representing the people of his district," Congresswoman Nikema Williams said in a statement.
