Air Force Major Hit With 10 Charges for Repeatedly Calling to Impeach Trump
Maj. Jason Watson faces a rare court-martial after a Substack interview, a Capitol Hill protest in uniform, and a CNN appearance — the first time a major has been charged under the military's contempt-toward-officials law.
A U.S. Air Force major has been charged with 10 counts under military law after publicly and repeatedly calling for President Trump's impeachment — a case attorneys say marks the first time a major has faced this particular charge.
Maj. Jason Watson, a 17-year Air Force veteran roughly three years from retirement, was charged Aug. 25 with three specifications of contempt toward officials under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, five specifications of dereliction of duty under Article 92, and two specifications of conduct unbecoming an officer under Article 133, according to Stars and Stripes.
The charges stem from three incidents: a June interview Watson gave on Substack, a July 1 protest at the U.S. Capitol where he appeared in uniform, and an Aug. 17 interview with CNN. In those appearances, Watson didn't mince words. "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," he said, per Newsweek.
Free Speech vs. Military Discipline
Watson was arrested Aug. 17 and has been in pretrial confinement since Aug. 18. He now faces the possibility of dismissal from the service, forfeiture of pay and benefits, and further confinement if convicted.
"I EXPECT EVERY AIRMAN AND GUARDIAN TO COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS AND POLICIES"
His attorney, Christopher Mutimer, framed the case as a matter of conscience: "It is my hope that other Americans who feel powerless in this moment will take some measure of courage from his willingness to speak," he said, according to Military.com. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink offered a sharply different framing: "I expect every Airman and Guardian to comply with all laws and policies governing personal conduct, political participation, and the wear of the uniform."
Article 88 — the contempt-toward-officials charge — is rarely used and has an unusual history; legal experts note it has almost never been applied to an officer at Watson's rank. The case is expected to test long-standing tension between service members' free-speech rights and the military's strict rules against political activity in uniform, and will likely draw attention from both civil-liberties advocates and military-discipline hardliners as it heads toward a court-martial.