Staff Reports
The Republican Senate Caucus in Georgia has suspended Senator Colton Moore, a state senator, for berating them for opposing his plan to remove former President Donald Trump from office through impeachment. In a statement, the caucus acknowledged Moore's right to free speech but emphasized that he had purposefully misled people and incited unwarranted animosity and conflict. Feeling that Moore's actions had endangered their colleagues and their families, the group included 32 out of the 56 senators from Georgia in their caucus.
Following his suspension, Moore referred to his coworkers as "RINOs" or "Republicans in name only" on social media. He declared that he wouldn't be discouraged and declared his intention to retaliate against the "Trump witch hunts."
This most recent episode demonstrates the widening gap between the grassroots Trump supporters and Governor Brian Kemp and many other elected Republicans. Kemp declined to support Trump's irrational assertions regarding the 2020 election and refrained from aiding the outgoing president in his endeavors to annul the outcome. The Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, has accused Trump and a number of other people of felonies connected to their work. Moore will continue to be a Republican senator, but without the backing of the majority caucus, he might not be able to advance legislation.
The Kemp Machine is revealed. https://t.co/0jjnZBhJVa
— S D Picker /🇺🇸~~ (@PicAxe6) September 29, 2023
With Trump's support, Moore spearheaded a special session aimed at impeaching and dismissing Willis or cutting off funding for her office. Kemp, though, wrote off this conversation as a "grifter scam" meant to raise money for Moore's political campaign. He claimed that it would conflict with an independent arm of government and be against Georgia law. Moore tried his best, but he was not able to get enough Republican or Democratic support to proceed with his plan.
Even if Moore was suspended for his actions, Willis' removal through a new state prosecutorial oversight commission is still something that other Republican state senators are willing to pursue. This commission, whose work is scheduled to start after October 1, has the power to dismiss or penalize prosecutors. Willis is not among the district attorneys who have previously sued to overturn the statute on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.
Governor Kemp has expressed disapproval of the timing of Trump's indictment, but he has not seen any proof that would force the commission to remove Willis from his position or impose discipline. In Georgia, the Republican Party is experiencing increasing division. It is unclear how this split will affect the party's cohesiveness and future political decisions.
