A sitting Georgia state senator was shoved to the ground and taken into custody Thursday for flouting orders not to enter the House chamber during Gov. Brian Kemp’s State of the State address.
State Sen. Colton Moore (R) later cut a video of himself on a medical bed claiming that he “took a bit of a beating” on his hand during the arrest.
The self-described “RINO Wrangler” had been forbidden from entering the chamber due to his blistering remarks about late House Speaker David Ralston last year.
“Today they took my freedom and liberty away as I was fighting for your liberty and freedom, but I’ll tell you what, I still have a constitutional obligation to do work,” Moore explained in a video message after the kerfuffle.
“I’ll still be in that legislature come tomorrow morning.”
As a state senator, Moore is still allowed in the upper chamber. It’s the lower chamber that’s off-limits to him.
Footage captured the viral moment as Moore sought to enter the state House chamber for Kemp’s speech. Georgia State Patrol intercepted him and instructed him not to go further due to his banishment.
“This is a joint session of the General Assembly. Your House rules do not apply,” Moore fired back, before attempting to muscle his way into the chamber. “I’m going into the chamber.”
An official pushed him back and officers later put handcuffs on him and escorted him away, bringing him to Fulton County Jail. It is not clear if he faces any criminal charges.
Back in March of last year, Moore admonished a state Senate bill to name a building at the University of North Georgia after Ralston, who died in 2022. Some of Ralston’s relatives were in the room during his speech.
“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 fumed in a fiery speech at the time.
Ralston’s successor, current state House Speaker Jon Burns of Newington, decried Moore’s tirade as “some of the vilest that you can make about a good man” and ordered him expelled from the chamber.
Moore has dubbed Burns a “tyrant” in response. The Peach State lawmaker had warned Wednesday of his plans to enter the state House chamber for Kemp’s speech.
Burns called the debacle outside the chamber “incredibly unfortunate” and faulted Moore.
“The Senator refused to cooperate with doorkeepers and law enforcement, and created a dangerous situation when he chose to use force against our law enforcement officers, dedicated doorkeepers and House staff,” Burns said in a statement.
“The integrity and decorum of this House are non-negotiable — period.”
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) said that “all elected 56 senators and 180 representatives deserve the opportunity to fulfill their responsibility to attend joint sessions.”
“There is real work to be done this session and the focus should be on delivering for the people of Georgia instead of personal grievances and egos.”
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