Georgia state senator Colton Moore was harassed and pushed to the ground before being arrested as he tried to enter the State House chamber on Thursday (January 16). Moore was indefinitely barred from entering the House chamber last year after making controversial statements about the late House Speaker David Ralston, but returned to participate in the joint session, which was to be addressed by Governor Brian Kemp. Fox News report.
After approaching the chamber's gate, Mr Moore was met with a wall of resistance as he was pushed back by an attending doorman. Unwilling to back down, Moore said he had a constitutional right to enter and that the doorman should be arrested for breaking the law.
A scuffle ensued, with one of the viral videos showing Mr Moore being pushed to the ground by one of the doormen. He was then led away in handcuffs by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) for defying the ban.
The SAP said its forces were forced to intervene when Mr Moore caused a disruption outside the House Chamber. He was taken to the Fulton County Jail and charged with willfully obstructing law enforcement officers, a misdemeanor.
“Despite multiple verbal warnings and several attempts to de-escalate the situation, Senator Moore persisted in his efforts to disrupt official proceedings in the House,” the statement said.
“The disturbance further escalated when Senator Moore pushed troopers several times.”
No elected representative should be thrown to the ground and arrested for discharging his constitutional obligation.
I'm happy to help you pay @realColtonMoore bail.
Please share details @FreedomCaucusGA @MalloryStaples1
pic.twitter.com/8DML6RQcox— Harrison Floyd 🇺🇸 (@hw_floyd) January 16, 2025
“Senator Colton Moore, who exposed and defeated the corrupt Fani Willis last year, has been arrested by the anti-Trump Speaker of the Georgia House,” Moore's office said in a statement.
“Colton is being held in the same Atlanta jail as President Trump. We are working to ensure his early release. Please pray for all who stand up for freedom and peace for all Georgians.”
Moor released
A day before the unrest, Moore wrote a letter to current House Speaker Jon Burns outlining why the ban was unconstitutional while warning that he planned to crash Thursday's joint session.
After his release from prison, Moore shared a video of him in the hospital, saying: “Thank you to all the patriots who showed their support today. I have a constitutional obligation and will be back in office tomorrow.”