Georgia Republican House Speaker John Burns on Thursday revoked the suspension of a state senator who was arrested for breaking into the House chamber to listen to Gov. Brian Kemp's (R) State of the State address.
“While the senator's actions were despicable and hurtful to all who knew, respected, and loved former Speaker David Ralston, Speaker Ralston's first priority has always been the people of our great state. We know he doesn't want that important job,” Burns said in a statement, according to multiple sources. outlet.
Georgia Sen. Colton Moore (R) was arrested Thursday after he allegedly tried to break into the House chamber. prohibited Last year, Burns criticized the late former Georgia State Speaker David Ralston, who was receiving the honor at the time, for mocking him.
“For this reason, the Ralston family would like to reassure their families here in the House that future joint sessions, with or without an apology from both men and women, will allow this chamber to resume business as usual and that all members of the General Assembly will be present. “I have expressed my desire to do so,” Burns said Friday.
On Thursday, Mr. Moore tried to enter the chamber to hear Mr. Kemp address lawmakers. Officials prevented him from entering and threw him to the ground. Moore was eventually arrested by state troopers and booked into the Fulton County Jail on misdemeanor charges, the Associated Press reported.
“How could a senator be arrested while the House speaker's lawyer threw him to the ground in a wrestling-like motion and 18 state troopers stood by?” Associated Press Moore told reporters Friday, according to . “It's a constitutional crisis. It's tyranny.”
Moore, who has criticized Georgia Republicans for not supporting President-elect Trump enough, called for a special session to investigate District Attorney Fani Willis, who prosecuted President-elect Trump. He was suspended from the Republican caucus in 2023 for this reason. Attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Willis was disqualified because of his relationship with a senior prosecutor.
Moore, a senator from northwestern Georgia, was released Thursday, it said, adding that he was being treated for his injuries at Emory University Hospital in midtown Atlanta.
