Georgia State Troopers arrested Republican Senator Colton Moore of Trenton on Thursday after he tried to defy orders that had banned him from the House Chamber.
Moore was banned in March 2024 after making disparaging remarks during a Senate debate on a resolution to honor the recently deceased House Speaker David Ralston.
Moore called Ralston, “one of the most corrupt Georgian’s we’ve seen in our lives.”
Current House Speaker Jon Burns had sent a letter to Moore stating that his ban would be lifted if he delivered a “sincere apology” to the former leaders family and friends.
Without an apology, Moore attempted to enter the chamber on Thursday for a join session with Gov. Brian Kemp.
Moore said that the letter asking for an apology was “unconstitutional, illegal and the most disgraceful piece of correspondence issued by a legislator in the history of the State of Georgia.”
When he attempted to enter the chamber on Thursday, Moore was blocked at the door. Moore proceeded to drop the floor during a scuffle after he repeatedly attempted to enter the chamber.
Moore told troopers, “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.”
Moore represents Senate District 53, which includes all of Catoosa, Walker, Chattooga and Dade counties, and a portion of Floyd County.
