Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R-GA), the President of the State Senate, called State Senator Colton Moore's (R-GA) arrest after attempting to enter the House chamber before Governor Brian Kemp's (R-GA) State of the State Address an "embarrassment," per The Center Square. State Sen. Moore tried to enter the House of Representatives to attend Gov. Kemp's speech but was physically restrained and arrested after being banned from the chamber.
In March 2024, State Sen. Moore described former House Speaker David Ralston as "corrupt" while in the upper chamber as the House was honoring Ralston following his death.
This prompted Ralston's successor, State Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-GA) to bar Moore from the House Chamber. Since the arrest, the ban was lifted by State Speaker Burns.
Lt. Gov. Jones reportedly told State Speaker Burns that this sort of drama wouldn't reoccur.
"You have my word this will not happen again under my watch," Jones said. "I will make sure every senator has a voice in this building. I would hope I would have the support of the body to represent you in that way."
Moreover, State Speaker Burns shared his admiration for the late former Speaker Ralston and said his family wants business to continue as usual.
"While the Senator’s actions were despicable and hurtful to all who knew, respected and loved former Speaker David Ralston—we know that Speaker Ralston’s first priority was always to serve the people of our great state, and he wouldn’t want that important work to be hindered," Burns said. "For this reason, the Ralston family has expressed to their family here in the House that they desire for our Chamber to resume business as normal—with all members of the General Assembly present—for any future joint sessions with or without the apology they and the House deserve."
