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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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State troopers arrested Georgia State Senator Colton Moore after he tried to defy House orders that had banned him from the chambers.
"Senator Colton Moore, who exposed and defeated corrupt District Attorney Fani Willis last year, has been arrested by the Anti-Trump Speaker of the Georgia House," Moore's press team told Newsweek. "Colton is being held in the same Atlanta jail as President Trump [was]. We are working to ensure his expedient release. Please pray for all those standing up for freedom and peace for all Georgians."
Why It Matters
On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was giving a State of the State address at the House. House Speaker Jon Burns had sent a letter to Moore reminding him that he is banned for "vile, disparaging and false comments" about the late House Speaker David Ralston.
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The conflict started after comments Moore made last year about naming a new facility at the University of North Georgia after Ralston, who Moore called "one of the most corrupt Georgians we've seen in our lives." Burns said Moore's ban would be lifted if he delivered a "sincere apology" to the former leader's family and friends.
Moore told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he met with Burns on Wednesday, but they ended up "agreeing to disagree." The Trenton Republican and former House member had called Burns a "tyrant" in social media posts while threatening "direct legal action."
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What To Know
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein captured the arrest on X, formerly Twitter. The photos show multiple officers surrounding Moore, who was wearing his name tag on his suit. The next photo showed Moore on the ground.
"This afternoon, January 16, 2025, the Georgia State Patrol arrested Senator Colton Moore at the State Capitol following a public disturbance prior to the State of the State address," the Georgia Department of Public Safety told Newsweek.
"Troopers stationed at the Capitol were forced to step in when Senator Moore created a disruption outside the House Chamber. Despite multiple verbal warnings and several attempts to de-escalate the situation, Senator Moore persisted in his attempts to disrupt official proceedings inside the House Chamber. The disturbance escalated further when Senator Moore pushed into Troopers multiple times."
Bluestein's video shows security pushing Moore back as he continuously tries to get around the officers and into the chambers. One officer asks Moore to "stop." Moore stumbles as the security guard holds onto the state senator's jacket lapels.
After someone opens the doors to the chambers, Moore starts more aggressively fighting, and a security guard seemingly pushes Moore away and onto the ground.
Moore gets up and goes straight to the officer. One guard says, "I'm so sorry."
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"It has gone too far," Moore said in the video. "I have an obligation to be in that room. 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."
Security guards repeated that they needed Moore to "step away."
"I understand what you're saying. This has gone too far," one trooper said. "It needs to stop, okay?"
Moore responded that he has "more authority than this doorkeeper of the House."
"I'm not causing a disturbance," Moore said. "I need to be let in."
Moore was then arrested and placed in handcuffs. He did not fight once officers put his hands behind his back.
"The Georgia State Patrol, in an effort to maintain peace and ensure the safety of everyone involved, arrested Senator Moore without further incident," the Georgia Department of Public Safety told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
State Senator Colton Moore on social media Wednesday: "TYRANT ALERT
"Speaker @JonBurnsGA is attempting to ARREST and BLOCK me from representing the 53rd District at tomorrow's State of the State joint session.
"I will NEVER back down.
"I will ALWAYS speak the truth and represent the people of Northwest Georgia as their trusted America First Senator.
"I will be there tomorrow as obligated under Georgia law."
X user @11SammyG11, who identifies herself as MAGA: "WE CALL ON JON BURNS TO RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!!! WE DEMAND CRIMINAL CHARGES ON ALL WHO PREVENT SENATOR COLTON MOORE FROM REPRESENTING GEORGIA AS HE WAS ELECTED TO DO!!!"
Dustin Grage, columnist at Townhal.com, on X: "Sen. Moore is an America First patriot and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Georgia Freedom Caucus."
What's Next
The Georgia Department of Public Safety told Newsweek that Moore was transported to the Fulton County Jail, "where he is being processed for misdemeanor obstruction."
"Colton has been released from Fulton County holding and is at an urgent care currently. He is expected to be available for media this evening," the state senator's team told Newsweek.
Update 1/16/25, 2:48 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
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