Georgia state senator shoved to the ground and arrested at state capitol

16 January

One state lawmaker who had been banned from the Georgia House of Representatives was recently arrested following a scuffle outside the chamber.

Fox 5 Atlanta reported that Republican state senator Colton Moore — who Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein described as a "far-right" lawmaker who supports President-elect Donald Trump over Republican Governor Brian Kemp — was arrested ahead of Kemp's State of the State address. Moore had been banned from the House chamber after he criticized the late Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R), who died in 2022.

The Republican lawmaker's ban from the House chamber came from remarks he made in March of 2024, when the Georgia legislature was mulling a bill to name a building on the University of North Georgia campus after the deceased speaker. While the measure ultimately passed, Moore opposed it, arguing that the speaker's legacy didn't merit having a building in his name.

"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," Moore said. Jon Burns, who succeeded Ralston as speaker, called Moore's comments "some of the vilest that you can make about a good man" and banned him from the House in response.

Moore attempted to challenge the ban, posting to his official X account that he would "NEVER back down" and "ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator." Bluestein posted the video of Moore being arrested outside the House chamber on Thursday, which shows him being held back by security personnel before ultimately being thrown to the ground.

The senator's actions proved divisive among his fellow Republicans. Georgia Republican Party chairman Josh McKoon said that letting Moore into the House chamber despite the ban was the "right thing to do." However, House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R) said Moore caused "a very dangerous situation, endangering law enforcement, doorkeepers, staff and individuals that were present."

Moore has been formally charged with one misdemeanor charge willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, and is being held on a $1,000 bond.

Watch the video of Moore's arrest below, or by clicking this link.

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