A Georgia state senator who had previously been banned from the state House chamber was arrested on Thursday after attempting to enter the chamber for the governor’s State of the State address and engaging in a physical altercation with House employees.
State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, is known for his far-right views and has been one of the more outspoken members of the chamber.
On Wednesday, he signaled that he would challenge the ban by calling House Speaker Jon Burns, another Republican, a “tyrant” on social media.
This arrest is one of several instances in which state officials have sought to control lawmakers or spectators as legislative sessions commenced in 2025.
Last year, Speaker Burns imposed the ban on Moore after the senator publicly criticized the late House Speaker David Ralston on a day when Ralston was being honored in the chamber and his family was present.
Moore called Ralston “one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders we’ll ever see” in a speech, citing allegations that Ralston had improperly delayed court cases in his capacity as a lawyer. Burns condemned Moore’s remarks as “vile” and stated that the ban would remain in place until Moore issued an apology.
Before his arrest on Thursday, Moore told reporters that Burns did not have the legal authority to prevent him from attending the joint House-Senate session, where he planned to hear Gov. Brian Kemp’s address. Moore revealed he had met with Burns on Wednesday, but they were unable to reach an agreement.
“You cannot impede a General Assembly session,” Moore said as he attempted to push past House staffers blocking the entrance. “I have a constitutional obligation to attend.”
Keith Williams, a lawyer representing the speaker’s office, shoved Moore, causing him to fall to the ground. Moments later, state troopers handcuffed Moore and took him to the Fulton County jail.
According to online jail records, Moore was booked on misdemeanor charges of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
Supporters quickly took to social media, stating that they were working on his release. Jail records showed that Moore would need to post $1,000 bail to be released.
In September 2023, Moore was expelled from the Senate Republican caucus after he launched attacks on fellow Republicans who opposed his calls for a special session to challenge Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for indicting former President Donald Trump. Governor Kemp rejected Moore’s efforts, calling them a “grifter scam” intended to raise campaign funds.
This incident follows a history of arrests involving state lawmakers and protests. In 2018, troopers arrested 15 individuals, including Nikema Williams, who was then a Democratic state senator and is now a member of Congress, during an election-related protest at the Georgia Capitol.
In 2021, police arrested state Rep. Park Cannon after she knocked on the door of the governor’s office while he was giving a televised speech.