A Georgia state senator who was banned from the state House chamber was arrested Thursday when he tried to enter the chamber for the governor’s state of the state speech and got into a shoving match with employees. Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican, is among the most right-wing members. He had said he would seek a showdown when he called House Speaker Jon Burns, a fellow Republican, a “tyrant” on social media.
The arrest is one of several examples of state officials trying to restrain lawmakers or onlookers as legislative sessions begin in 2025. Burns banned Moore from the House last year after Moore denounced late House Speaker David Ralston on a day when Ralston was being honored and his relatives were watching, the Associated Press reports.
Moore called Ralston “one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders we’ll ever see” over allegations that Ralston improperly delayed cases he handled as a lawyer. Before his arrest, Moore said Burns couldn’t legally prevent him from attending a joint House-Senate session to listen to Gov. Brian Kemp in the House chamber. “You cannot impede a General Assembly session,” Moore said as he tried to push his way past House staffers who were blocking the door. “I have a constitutional obligation to attend.” Keith Williams, a lawyer for the speaker’s office, shoved Moore and the senator fell to the ground. Troopers handcuffed Moore and took him to the Fulton County jail. He was booked on misdemeanor charges of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
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