ATLANTA — On Friday, the Speaker of the Georgia House announced the removal of a ban preventing state Senator Colton Moore from entering the House chamber. This decision came just one day after Moore was arrested while attempting to attend Governor Brian Kemp’s state of the state address.
This incident has drawn attention as it was not an isolated event but rather part of a pattern where state officials have sought to limit the actions of lawmakers and observers at legislative meetings in 2025. The arrest quickly became a talking point, especially as many were capturing the event on their devices.
Moore was taken into custody by state troopers after he attempted to bypass House staff who were obstructing his path. The altercation escalated, resulting in Keith Williams, an attorney for the speaker’s office, physically restraining Moore. Moore ended up on the ground, after which he was handcuffed and transported to Fulton County jail facing misdemeanor charges for willful obstruction of law enforcement. Following his booking, a supporter secured his release by posting a $1,000 bail. Moore, embodying defiance, questioned the legal implications of the incident, claiming it represented a constitutional crisis and labeled it as tyranny.
Moore, representing Trenton, stated that while the House speaker can set rules, he believed he had the right to attend the joint session due to its significance. Furthermore, he indicated he might pursue legal action against Williams and potentially others involved. The ban on Moore was initially put in place by Speaker Burns last year, following comments Moore made against the late Speaker David Ralston on a day dedicated to honoring him, remarks that Burns considered unacceptable. The ban remained in place until Moore would issue an apology.
In a statement, Burns noted that Moore’s actions aimed at creating a disruption violated longstanding decorum rules within the General Assembly. However, he expressed a willingness to allow Moore to attend joint sessions moving forward without requiring an apology, asserting that Ralston would have preferred the legislative work to continue unobstructed.
Lt. Edward Starling, a representative for the troopers, mentioned that there were no updates regarding whether the charges against Moore would be dismissed. This development likely prevents further confrontations scheduled for January 28, when a joint session will occur to hear from the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court, Michael P. Boggs.
On the same day, conservative groups rallied to support Moore, causing two interns in Burns’ office to field numerous complaints concerning how Moore was treated. Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon also extended their support to Moore. Jones publicly declared to Burns that the circumstances surrounding Moore’s arrest were an embarrassment for the party and assured that similar incidents would not be permitted under his oversight.
In 2023, Moore faced expulsion from the Senate Republican caucus after criticizing fellow Republicans for lacking support in convening a special session aimed at addressing the actions of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who had indicted former President Donald Trump. Governor Kemp dismissed those calls as a misguided effort for fundraising.
Past events at the Georgia Capitol also reflect tensions between law enforcement and protests, including the arrests of 15 individuals in 2018, which included then-state Senator Nikema Williams, now a Congress member. In another instance in 2021, state Representative Park Cannon was arrested after knocking on Kemp’s office door during a live broadcast. Both instances ended with charges being dropped.
