State Senator Colton Moore of Georgia was arrested on Thursday after attempting to enter the House chambers, despite being explicitly banned by House leadership. The incident, which occurred during Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State address, underscores growing tensions between Moore and his fellow lawmakers.
The arrest stems from an ongoing conflict between Moore and House Speaker Jon Burns, who issued the senator a ban in 2024 over remarks deemed “vile, disparaging, and false” about the late House Speaker David Ralston.
The feud began when Moore criticized the naming of a new University of North Georgia facility after Ralston, calling him “one of the most corrupt Georgians we’ve seen in our lives.” Burns has stated that Moore’s ban would only be lifted if he issued a “sincere apology” to Ralston’s family and friends, something Moore has refused to do.
On Wednesday, Moore and Burns reportedly met to discuss the matter, but the meeting ended in a stalemate, with Moore later calling Burns a “tyrant” on social media and threatening legal action.
The dramatic arrest was documented by Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein, who shared photos and video on X (formerly Twitter). The images show Moore, wearing his name tag on a suit jacket, being surrounded by security officers. In one video, Moore repeatedly attempts to push past the officers, insisting on his right to enter the chambers.
At one point, an officer asked Moore to stop. After stumbling during the confrontation, Moore was seen more aggressively resisting as the doors to the chambers opened. Security ultimately restrained him, with one officer reportedly apologizing as tensions escalated.
In the footage, Moore argued he had a constitutional obligation to be in the room, stating:
“I represent 200,000 people in northwest Georgia who duly elected me to be here today. And you’re hindering that. It’s unconstitutional.”
Despite his protests, Moore was placed under arrest after refusing to leave. He did not resist once handcuffed.
The arrest has also sparked significant reaction online. Some supporters have rallied behind Moore, with one user calling for House Speaker Burns to resign and demanding charges against those preventing Moore from fulfilling his duties. Others have called his actions “disappointing,” with some querying “is he drunk?” with tongues firmly in cheek.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Moore is still in custody. The arrest highlights a deepening rift between Moore and Georgia’s Republican leadership, with both sides refusing to back down. Whether this conflict escalates further or reaches some resolution remains to be seen.
