Stars and Stripes

An Air Force officer last assigned to Poland has been charged with multiple violations of military law after publicly calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Official charges were preferred Monday against Maj. Jason Watson under three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 88, contempt toward officials; Article 92, dereliction of duty; and Article 133, conduct unbecoming an officer, an Air Force spokesperson told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.

Watson faces three specifications under Article 88 for what prosecutors say were contemptuous remarks about the president, his attorney, Christopher Mutimer, said in a statement the same day.

In addition, he is accused of five specifications under Article 92 and two under Article 133, Mutimer said.

As of July, Watson was assigned to Bydgoszcz as a staff officer, according to previous reporting by Stars and Stripes. An Air Force Academy graduate, he has been in the service for 17 years.

The Article 88 charges stem from an interview Watson gave to the Defenders of Our Republic Substack newsletter in June, a July 1 protest in uniform at the Capitol and an Aug. 17 interview with CNN, the network said.

The charges concern public statements Watson made about what he believes are unconstitutional actions by Trump and his administration, including Watson's contention that the war in Iran violates the Constitution, Mutimer added.

In addition to the Article 88 charges, CNN reported that the Article 92 specifications include allegations that Watson violated Defense Department regulations restricting troops from participating in partisan political activities, improperly wore his uniform at a Capitol press conference, violated leave regulations by traveling to Washington and refused to wear his uniform to work the morning after his interview.

The network reported that the Capitol protest and Aug. 17 interview are alleged to constitute conduct unbecoming an officer.

Watson, 40, attracted national attention last month when he appeared at a news conference in Washington in his Air Force service uniform and called for the impeachment of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

"Who I am is immaterial," Watson said at the time. "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 cited U.S. military involvement in Venezuela, Cuba and Iran among reasons for calling for Trump and Vance to be removed from office.

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, escorted Watson to the Capitol steps following the news conference. Watson then stood alone holding a sign reading "impeach, convict, remove."

Capitol police arrested Watson after he refused requests to move. Civilian charges stemming from that arrest were subsequently dropped.

The Air Force subsequently began investigating Watson for potential violations of military law, and he was restricted to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said shortly after the protest that the service takes allegations of misconduct seriously, particularly conduct that could undermine the military's nonpartisan status.

"Pursuant to a thorough investigation — which will proceed unimpeded — commanders will ensure appropriate disposition when holding service members accountable in accordance with military law and due process," Meink said on X in July.

Watson again publicly criticized the commander in chief during an Aug. 17 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 told the network. "And that is unacceptable to me."

Watson will continue to be held in pretrial confinement, the Air Force spokesperson said.

The charges and evidence will now be reviewed to determine whether Watson's case should be tried by court-martial, according to the Air Force.

If required, a preliminary hearing would determine whether there is probable cause to believe the charged offenses were committed and whether jurisdiction exists and whether the charges are properly formulated, and it would recommend how the case should be handled, the spokesperson said, adding that Watson is considered innocent until proven guilty and is entitled to due process under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.