State Senator Colton Moore, who was recently arrested for defying a ban from the Georgia House of Representatives, attended a joint session of the General Assembly without incident this week.  Moore was met by some constituents who voiced their support for the controversial senator.

Moore was arrested at the Georgia State Capitol on January 16 after defying an order that barred him from the House Chamber. The incident has since ignited significant controversy and support from his constituents, culminating in a rousing reception for Moore at the Capitol this week. Moore, who represents Georgia’s 53rd Senate District encompassing Dade, Catoosa, Walker, Chattooga, and parts of Floyd County, was charged with willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor.

His arrest stemmed from an earlier decision by House Speaker Jon Burns, who banned Moore from the chamber due to controversial remarks he made regarding the late House Speaker David Ralston. Despite the ban, Moore attempted to gain entry to the House Chamber ahead of Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State address, resulting in his arrest by Georgia State Troopers. In a turn of events, Speaker Burns lifted the ban the day after Moore’s arrest, allowing him to attend the State of the Judiciary Address on Tuesday of this week without incident. As he entered the chamber, Moore received a hero’s welcome from dozens of supporters who rallied at the Capitol in his defense. Supporters expressed their discontent with the situation, with one stating, “Cronyism is not what we need. We need every voice to be heard.” Another supporter echoed similar sentiments, claiming that Moore’s treatment was “completely wrong.”

In response to the outpouring of support, Moore thanked his constituents and labeled them as “just concerned citizens from all over the state.” He passionately asserted that his constitutional rights had been violated and criticized Speaker Burns for the ban. “This is the first time in our history we’ve ever seen this type of thing. It’s absolutely rogue. We burnt the Constitution to the ground last week. We have to make sure an example is set so that never happens again,” Moore declared.