A Georgia state senator and hardline supporter of President-elect Trump appeared to be pushed to the floor before being arrested while trying to enter the state House chamber on Thursday.
State Sen. Colton Moore, who previously tried to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis impeached for indicting Trump, tried to enter the House floor to attend Gov. Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address — but was ultimately led away in handcuffs.
Moore is currently banned from entering the chamber after he blasted the state Senate’s decision last year to consider a resolution to name a building at the University of North Georgia after the now-deceased former speaker David Ralston.
The state senator appeared to be pushed to the floor and arrested while trying to enter the Georgia House chamber. (Fox News)
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Moore accused Ralston of using his office to delay court cases for criminal defendants he had represented as an attorney. Ralston claimed in 2019 that his actions were entirely legal.
“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 exclaimed at the time.
On Wednesday, Moore wrote to current House Speaker Jon Burns outlining why he thought the ban was unconstitutional and said he intended to be at today’s joint session.
“I will NEVER back down,” Moore wrote on X, sharing the letter he penned to Burns. “I will ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator.”
But when he tried to enter the chamber on Thursday, he was met by a wall of resistance and appeared to be pushed back by an attending doorman.
State Sen. Colton Moore was arrested on Thursday for trying to enter the Georgia House. (Fox News)
Moore told state troopers in attendance that he had a constitutional right to enter and that a doorman should be arrested for breaking the law.
“This is a joint session of the General Assembly. Your House rules do not apply,” Moore told the men. “I’m going into the chamber.”
Unable to get in, Moore asked a state trooper whether he was stopping him from entering. The trooper appeared to say that the doormen were responsible for who entered.
A scuffle ensued, with video showing Moore appearing to be pushed to the floor by one of the doormen. He was then surrounded by state troopers and subsequently arrested.
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Burns said that the incident was “incredibly unfortunate.”
“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 to Fox News Digital. “I want to thank every House staff member and our entire House family for holding the line to honor Speaker Ralston’s legacy of dedicated service to our state. As you saw today, the integrity and decorum of this House are non-negotiable—period.”
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said that “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.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Georgia state police and Gov. Brian Kemp’s office about the scuffle but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Meanwhile, Moore said that the state was “ruled by authoritarians” on his way out and that the ban was censorship of his voice as an elected official.
Georgia Republican chairman Josh McKoon said that he was “deeply disappointed” that Moore had been denied admission to the chamber and “shocked” that he had been taken into custody.
“It was not only legally appropriate to admit him to today’s proceedings — it was simply the right thing to do,” McKoon wrote in a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta. “Our focus should be on the excellent agenda being outlined by Governor Kemp today to continue to make Georgia the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family — not internal conflicts.”
In 2023, Georgia’s Republican Senate Caucus suspended Moore for attacking them for opposing his plan to impeach Willis for indicting Trump in an election interference case.
Georgia DA Fani Willis, left, indicted President-elect Trump, right, in an election interference case. (Getty)
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“The Georgia RINOs responded to my call to fight back against the Trump witch hunts by acting like children and throwing me out of the caucus,” Moore wrote on X at the time. “But I’m not going anywhere.”
Moore was the most prominent backer of a special session to impeach and remove Willis or defund her office, winning Trump’s endorsement. Kemp denounced the call as “some grifter scam” to raise campaign contributions for Moore.
The Willis case eventually unraveled, due in part to her having a romantic relationship with a prosecutor she had hired.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
The senator, who was elected to represent their constituents in the state legislature, was reportedly trying to enter the House chamber to participate in a crucial debate when they were physically blocked by security officers. Despite identifying themselves as a duly elected official, the senator was met with aggression and ultimately thrown to the ground.
The arrest of a state senator trying to carry out their duties is a blatant violation of democratic principles and the rule of law. It raises serious questions about the state of our democracy and the treatment of elected officials by those in positions of power.
As calls for an investigation and accountability grow, it is crucial that we stand up for the rights of our elected representatives and demand justice for those who have been wronged. The actions taken against State Senator [Name] are unacceptable and must be met with swift and appropriate consequences. #StandWithSenator [Name] #JusticeForElectedOfficials.
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