Coulton Moore is a rabble-rousing member of the Georgia State Senate, and having insulted a former (and deceased) Speaker of the House, he was banned by the current Speaker from entering the Chamber until he apologized.
It's a pretty bizarre story to begin with, given that Moore's comment was certainly not particularly nice but hardly shocking to the sensibilities:
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.
My guess is that nastier things are said on the House floor every day they meet. Imagine what Georgia Democrats have said about Trump or Brian Kemp without getting banned from the House Chamber.
Obviously the banning of a State Senator from entering the House Chamber would not normally obstruct his ability to perform his duties, but yesterday was an exception. Governor Kemp gave his State of the State address in a joint session, as is usual, and because the House Chamber is the largest available space, that is where it is given. I assume it is the same in all or most states.
Here's what happened when Moore tried to enter the chamber:
No elected representative should be thrown to the ground & arrested for fulfilling their constitutional obligation.
— Harrison Floyd 🇺🇸 (@hw_floyd) January 16, 2025
I’m happy to help with paying for @realColtonMoore bail.
Please share details @FreedomCaucusGA @MalloryStaples1
pic.twitter.com/8DML6RQcox
Moore was, quite literally, manhandled, thrown to the ground, arrested, and charged with a misdemeanor.
Attending the State of the State is clearly a part of his legislative responsibility, and while legislators get wide latitude in their behavior and in setting the rules for their bodies, this seems to be a clear step over the line. On that day, the House Chamber was the site of a JOINT session of the legislature and not simply the province of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, at the very least, should have acknowledged that and accommodated Moore, in my not-so-humble opinion.
Colton Moore, a loyal, hardworking, pro-Trump Georgia State Senator, was handcuffed and arrested by the House Speaker after attempting to attend the State of the State session to fulfill his duties.
— Bruce LeVell (@Bruce_LeVell) January 16, 2025
Previously suspended from the GOP caucus for helping lead the charge to end the… pic.twitter.com/oiyydOhGpS
No doubt Moore is not many people's favorite in the Georgia legislature, given that he is one of the leaders of the Freedom Caucus. No doubt that played a role in the rather generous latitude given to the goons who threw him to the ground.
Ralston was SO corrupt, TEN principled House Republicans in Georgia introduced HR328 asking that Speaker Ralston resign his political position as Speaker of the House.
— National File (@NationalFile) January 16, 2025
WHY?
Because Ralston was protecting rapists. pic.twitter.com/EFsRJ165a5
I don't pretend to be an expert on Georgia politics, but this stinks to high heaven. I don't care that the current or former Speaker were Republicans; I do care that this is a bad look and arguably unconstitutional obstruction of a legislator doing his job--although I doubt there is any remedy given that few courts want to get entangled in legislative matters of this kind.
Speaking ill of the dead may not be seen as nice by Georgia Speaker Jon Burns, but getting the police to manhandle and throw to the floor a State Senator who represents 200,000 people looks and is awful.
Apparently the Chair of the Georgia Republican Party thinks the same:
Statement from @GaRepublicans Chairman @JoshMcKoon
— Josh McKoon 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 🇮🇱 (@JoshMcKoon) January 16, 2025
“Republicans believe in our Constitutional form of government. Usually on a few occasions each year, the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate meet in a joint session to conduct legislative business.
Today was one of those…
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