A dramatic incident unfolded at the Georgia Capitol last Thursday, as North Georgia Senator Colton Moore was forcefully removed and subsequently arrested for attempting to gain access to the House chamber.
The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked a wave of controversy and debate.
According to RedState, Senator Moore had been previously barred from the chamber following his critical remarks about House Speaker David Ralston. Moore had labeled Ralston as "one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders that we are ever going to see in my lifetime," during a Senate discussion about naming a University of North Georgia building in Ralston's honor. The comments, made in the presence of Ralston's family, led to Moore's banishment by Ralston's successor, Republican House Speaker Jon Burns of Newington.
Defying the ban, Moore declared Burns' order as unconstitutional and vowed to attend the House session the following day. He posted a letter on social media addressed to the Speaker, stating, "Under Article III, Section 4, Paragraph I of the Georgia Constitution, we are in an obligatory legislative session. Any conduct by any Speaker, official, or state employee that is in conflict with our state constitution, due to the supremacy doctrine, is without force, invalid."
Despite his assertion, Moore was denied entry to the House floor by security officials, leading to a physical altercation that saw the Senator pushed to the floor. Upon regaining his footing, Moore expressed his frustration, stating, "It has gone too far. 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."
The situation escalated further when troopers surrounded Moore, leading to his arrest and subsequent detention at Fulton County Jail. This is the same facility where former President Donald Trump was held. Moore's team is currently working towards securing his release.
Senator Moore is known for his role in instigating an investigation into Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, whom he accused of corruption. This move led to his indefinite suspension from the GOP caucus, who claimed his call for the investigation "knowingly misled people across Georgia and our nation, causing unnecessary tension and hostility, while putting his Caucus colleagues and their families at risk of personal harm.
Moore's confrontational approach, including his labeling of Republicans who did not support the investigation into Willis as "RINOs" (Republicans In Name Only), has strained his relationship with the Georgia GOP. This tension, coupled with his recent actions at the Capitol, has further deepened the divide between Moore and his party.
The incident at the Georgia Capitol highlights the ongoing discord within the state's GOP, as well as the broader national party. As Senator Moore's arrest and the subsequent fallout continue to make headlines, it underscores the challenges faced by conservatives in maintaining unity and coherence in their ranks.
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