Drama in the Peach State exploded out into the open as Senator Colton Moore tussled with law enforcement outside the Georgia House Chamber during Governor Brian Kemp’s annual State of the State Address.
Moore, who was previously banned from the House over inappropriate behavior at a congressional memorial service for the late Speaker David Ralston, attempted to forcibly enter the chamber on Thursday. Current Speaker Jon Burns warned Moore in advance he would not be allowed to attend the governor's speech.
“On Thursday, January 16th, 2025, members of the General Assembly will gather in the House Chamber for Governor Brian Kemp’s seventh State of the State Address,” Burns wrote in a letter to Moore. “As you will recall, on March 14th, 2024, following your vile, disparaging, and false comments in reference to the character of former Speaker David Ralston, because House Rules require me to uphold the decorum of the House and decency of speech, I subsequently ordered the doorkeeper of the House, Corey Mulkey, to prevent your entrance onto any property of the Georgia House of Representatives, especially the House Chamber.”
“This letter serves as a reminder that my order is still in effect and you are not allowed to enter the House Chamber,” he continued. “This includes joining your colleagues from the Senate for the State of the State Address unless you deliver a sincere apology to the family, extended family, and loved ones of former Speaker David Ralston from the floor of the Senate before January 16th, 2025.”
Colton, who blasted the letter as “unconstitutional, illegal and the most disgraceful piece of correspondence issued by a legislator in the history of the State of Georgia," announced his intentions to attend the meeting despite the ban.
He later posted an edited video of Georgia State Patrol officers throwing him to the floor outside the House chamber; however, a fuller clip showed Moore attempting to wrestle his way into the chamber before law enforcement arrested him.
WATCH:
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) January 16, 2025
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