Maj. Jason Watson faces charges under a rarely used military law that prohibits criticism of the U.S. president.
Published August 25, 2026
The U.S. Air Force announced it is seeking military justice charges against Maj. Jason Watson, who publicly called for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over the war against Iran.
Major Watson’s lawyer, Christopher Mutimah, said on Tuesday: “Major Watson acted knowing the risks to his career and freedom.” “My hope is that other Americans who feel powerless in this moment take some courage from his willingness to speak out and stand up for his beliefs.”
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Watson, an active-duty police officer, was detained by police in uniform on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in July while holding a sign calling for Trump and Vance’s removal from office. The protest, which included U.S. lawmakers and was organized by activists from the Elimination Coalition, said at the time that Watson was “the first active-duty officer in the military to call for President Trump’s impeachment and removal from office.”
Watson appeared on CNN earlier this month and renewed his call for Trump to be removed as president and commander-in-chief of the military.
“What is happening with President Trump is not normal. He has failed us,” Watson said. “And not only is he unfit to be president, he is grossly violating the Constitution, breaking laws, rampant corruption, and killing Americans. And that is unacceptable to me, and it should be unacceptable to all of us.”
On Tuesday, Watson’s attorney said in a statement that the airman will be charged under three sections of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including Section 88, a rarely used section that accuses him of using “derogatory language toward the President, the Vice President, and Congress.”
The Air Force confirmed that Watson had been charged and said he will remain in pretrial confinement and will be entitled to due process.
