Republican arrested by state troopers while trying to break his House ban
State troopers arrested Georgia State Senator Colton Moore after he tried to defy House orders that had banned him from the chambers.
Newsweek reached out to Moore’s office via email and the Georgia Department of Public Affairs via voice message and email for comment.
Why It Matters
On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was giving a State of the State address at the House. House Speaker Jon Burns had sent a letter to Moore reminding him that he is banned for “vile, disparaging and false comments” about the late House Speaker David Ralston.
AP Photo/Jeff Amy, File
The conflict started after comments Moore made last year about naming a new facility at the University of North Georgia after Ralston, who Moore called “one of the most corrupt Georgians we’ve seen in our lives.” Burns said Moore’s ban would be lifted if he delivered a “sincere apology” to the former leader’s family and friends.
Moore told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he met with Burns on Wednesday, but they ended up “agreeing to disagree.” The Trenton Republican and former House member had called Burns a “tyrant” in social media posts while threatening “direct legal action.”
What To Know
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein captured the arrest on X, formerly Twitter. The photos show multiple officers surrounding Moore, who was wearing his name tag on his suit. The next photo showed Moore on the ground.
Bluestein’s video shows security pushing Moore back as he continuously tries to get around the officers and into the chambers. One officer asks Moore to “stop.” Moore stumbles as the security guard holds onto the state senator’s jacket lapels.
Republican state Sen. Colton Moore was just arrested by state Troopers after he tried to defy a House order that banned him from the chambers. He was knocked to the floor after a scuffle, and was led away after telling authorities they were denying his rights. #gapol pic.twitter.com/jcKi5LEQHW
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) January 16, 2025
After someone opens the doors to the chambers, Moore starts more aggressively fighting, and a security guard seemingly pushes Moore away and onto the ground.
Moore gets up and goes straight to the officer. One guard says, “I’m so sorry.”
“It has gone too far,” Moore said in the video. “I have an obligation to be in that room. I represent 200,000 people in northwest Georgia who duly elected me to be here today. And you’re hindering that. It’s unconstitutional. You have no respect for the Constitution.”
Security guards repeated that they needed Moore to “step away.”
“I understand what you’re saying. This has gone too far,” one trooper said. “It needs to stop, okay?”
Moore responded that he has “more authority than this doorkeeper of the House.”
“I’m not causing a disturbance,” Moore said. “I need to be let in.”
Moore was then arrested and placed in handcuffs. He did not fight once officers put his hands behind his back.
What People Are Saying
State Senator Colton Moore on social media Wednesday: “TYRANT ALERT
“Speaker @JonBurnsGA is attempting to ARREST and BLOCK me from representing the 53rd District at tomorrow’s State of the State joint session.
“I will NEVER back down.
“I will ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator.
“I will be there tomorrow as obligated under Georgia law.”
X user @11SammyG11, who identifies herself as MAGA: “WE CALL ON JON BURNS TO RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!!! WE DEMAND CRIMINAL CHARGES ON ALL WHO PREVENT SENATOR COLTON MOORE FROM REPRESENTING GEORGIA AS HE WAS ELECTED TO DO!!!”
Dustin Grage, columnist at Townhal.com, on X: “Sen. Moore is an America First patriot and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Georgia Freedom Caucus.”
What’s Next
It is unclear if Moore remains in custody at this time.
