Maj. Jason Watson, an Air Force officer, was formally charged on Monday with several violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The charges include three counts of Article 88 for alleged contemptuous remarks about President Donald Trump, five counts of Article 92 for disobeying orders, and two counts of Article 133 for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Background of the charges
The Article 88 accusations stem from three separate incidents: a June interview with the “Defenders of our Republic” Substack newsletter, a July 1 protest at the U.S. Capitol while wearing his uniform, and an August 17 interview with CNN. Military regulations prohibit service members from engaging in overtly partisan activity while in uniform or using disrespectful language toward the President or other senior civilian officials.
Details of the alleged misconduct
According to the charging document, Watson was first arrested in July for protesting at the Capitol in uniform. He was arrested again last week after repeating criticism of President Trump during a CNN interview. In that interview, Watson told host Erin Burnett that Trump was “a failure as president, flagrantly violating the Constitution, breaking the law, engaged in rampant corruption, and killing Americans,” which he described as unacceptable.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink responded on social media, emphasizing that all airmen must comply with laws and policies governing personal conduct, political participation, and uniform wear. He warned that the trust placed in the military cannot be compromised.
Additional charges and potential penalties
The Article 92 violations allege that Watson ignored Department of Defense regulations that bar troops from speaking on partisan causes, improperly wore his uniform at a Capitol press conference, violated leave rules by traveling to Washington, D.C., and refused to wear his uniform the morning after the CNN interview. The Article 133 counts claim his protest and interview constitute conduct unbecoming an officer.
Watson’s attorney, Chris Mutimer, said his client remains in pre‑trial confinement, effectively solitary confinement for safety reasons. Mutimer added that Watson believes he acted in defense of the Constitution and the oath he took.
Historical context
Criminal convictions under Article 88 are rare. A CNN review identified only two prior convictions since the Uniform Code of Military Justice was enacted in 1951. The most recent was in 2021, when former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller pleaded guilty to contempt of officials after posting videos critical of the Biden administration.
Military courts‑martial can be convened as special (roughly equivalent to misdemeanor trials) or general (analogous to felony trials). The Air Force has not yet indicated which type of court‑martial Watson may face.
Current status
The Air Force District of Washington will oversee the case if it proceeds to a general court‑martial. The service has stated Watson is presumed innocent pending trial. No further comment was received from the Air Force at the time of publication.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
