ATLANTA — A Georgia magistrate judge has denied a request for an arrest warrant against a state House staffer following a confrontation between a state senator and the staffer earlier this year.
State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, sought the warrant against Keith Williams, a lawyer in the House speaker’s office, stemming from a scuffle that occurred outside the House chamber in January. Magistrate Judge Robert Wolf stated during the hearing that there was insufficient evidence to establish probable cause for criminal charges.
Moore’s legal team has indicated intentions to appeal the judge’s decision to Fulton County Superior Court.
The incident occurred on January 16, when Moore attempted to bypass House staffers blocking his access to the chamber for the governor’s state of the state address. House Speaker Jon Burns previously issued a ban on Moore following remarks he made against the late House Speaker David Ralston during a respectful event honoring Ralston.
Before the altercation, Moore contended to reporters that the law permitted him to attend the joint session, which featured remarks from Gov. Brian Kemp.
As Moore attempted to enter the chamber, Williams intervened, leading to a physical confrontation where Moore fell to the ground. Following this, state troopers restrained Moore and took him to the Fulton County Jail, where he faced misdemeanor charges for obstruction of law enforcement officers.
The day following Moore’s arrest, House Speaker Burns lifted the ban on his access to the House chamber, as support grew among state Senate and Republican Party leaders for Moore.
Notably, Moore faced expulsion from the Senate Republican caucus in September 2023 after publicly criticizing fellow Republicans who opposed a special session aimed at addressing actions by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis related to the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
