Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican who represents portions of Northwest Georgia, was arrested outside the State Capitol in Atlanta before Gov. Brian Kemp’s State of the State address Thursday, Jan. 16.
Troopers assigned to the Capitol took Moore into custody after the senator “created a disruption outside the House chamber,” according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
“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,” a release from the department states. “The disturbance escalated further when Senator Moore pushed into Troopers multiple times.”
Moore, who was arrested without further incident and transported to the Fulton County Jail Thursday, is now under investigation.
MORE North Georgia Senator arrested trying to force way into House Chamber
Past issues
As a public figure, Moore’s political career has been marred by controversy as he’s often waged attacks and been the subject of frequent clashes with fellow GOP leaders.
Here in Habersham, about a year ago, Moore was accused of orchestrating a barrage of attacks as well as a campaign of harassment against Georgia State Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia).
In numerous alleged instances, Moore and his supporters hounded Hatchett and his family online and in person at their home in Cornelia. And Moore allegedly encouraged at least one out-of-town MAGA supporter to show up at Hatchett’s home at a time when he knew Sen. Hatchett was out of town.
Moore was previously barred from entering the House chamber after he made disparaging remarks about former House Speaker David Ralston after his death in 2022. Those remarks by Moore came during a day meant to honor the late speaker and is said to have disrupted the ceremony.
On Thursday, despite the ban, Moore tried to force his way into the House chamber to attend the State of the State address before his arrest.
