An active-duty Air Force major is facing three charges and ten military specifications after repeatedly attacking President Donald Trump, including during a protest in which he appeared in uniform on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Major Jason Watson called for Trump and Vice President JD Vance to be impeached, convicted, and removed from office. The Air Force has since placed Watson in pretrial confinement while authorities determine whether his case will proceed to a court-martial.
The case grew out of Watson’s public campaign against the Trump administration, which included a June interview, a July 1st Capitol protest, and an August television appearance. Watson accused Trump of violating the Constitution through military operations involving Iran and other countries. His decision to wear his uniform during the Capitol event also raised questions about military regulations that restrict active-duty personnel from participating in partisan political activity.
Watson appeared alongside Rep. Al Green (D-TX) during the July protest before standing on the Capitol steps with a sign reading, “Impeach. Convict. Remove.” Capitol Police detained him after Green left and Watson refused instructions to move from an area where public demonstrations are generally prohibited without a member of Congress present. Civilian charges connected to that detention were later dropped, but the Air Force began investigating whether Watson’s actions violated military law.
The conservative X account Libs of TikTok reported that Watson is now facing ten specifications under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Those allegations are organized under three UCMJ articles rather than ten separate articles. They include three specifications under Article 88, five under Article 92, and two under Article 133.
Article 88 prohibits commissioned officers from using contemptuous language against the president, vice president, Congress, and certain other officials. Article 92 covers alleged failures to obey lawful orders or regulations, while Article 133 addresses conduct unbecoming an officer. According to Stars and Stripes, the Article 92 allegations include violating restrictions on partisan political activity, improperly wearing his uniform at the Capitol event, violating leave regulations by traveling to Washington, and later refusing to wear his uniform for duty. The Capitol protest and Watson’s August interview also form the basis of the two Article 133 specifications.
Watson made clear during the July event that he understood his actions could carry professional consequences. “Who I am is immaterial,” he said. “In the grand scheme of things, I’m just a nobody. What matters far more than who I am is what I have to say and the price I’m willing to pay to say it.”
Watson escalated his criticism during an August 17th interview with CNN. “Not only is [Trump] a failure as president; he is flagrantly violating the Constitution, breaking the law, engaged in rampant corruption and is killing Americans,” Watson said. “And that is unacceptable to me.” The interview was among the incidents cited in the Article 88 and Article 133 allegations. The charges and Watson’s remarks were commented on by CBS Mornings report:
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See Watson’s alleged illegal protest here:
Watson’s attorney, Christopher Mutimer, said the Article 88 prosecution is especially unusual and claimed his client could be among the first officers of his rank charged under that provision in modern memory. In an August 25th statement, Mutimer confirmed that none of the allegations has been proven and said the defense intends to challenge them in military court. “Major Watson acted knowing the risks to his career and his liberty,” Mutimer said. “It is my hope that other Americans who feel powerless in this moment will take some measure of courage from his willingness to speak and to stand by his convictions.”
Watson, 40, is an Air Force Academy graduate who has served for 17 years and was most recently assigned as a staff officer in Poland. An Air Force spokesperson said he will remain in pretrial confinement while receiving the due-process protections required by the UCMJ. The charges and evidence will now be reviewed to determine whether the case should be tried by court-martial. If required, a preliminary hearing would determine whether probable cause exists and recommend how the case should proceed.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.