U.S. Air Force Major Arrested on Capitol Steps After Speech Calling for President Trump's Impeachment

An active-duty U.S. Air Force officer was arrested on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday after delivering a public speech calling for the impeachment and conviction of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The officer, identified as Air Force Major Jason Watson, was arrested after speaking at a news conference organized by the Removal Coalition, a grassroots activist organization. Watson identified himself as an active-duty service member during the event and appeared in full military uniform. The press conference was also attended by Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Capitol Police, members of the public are legally prohibited from staging demonstrations on the steps of the House of Representatives unless they are actively accompanied by a member of Congress. While Watson was initially escorted to the steps by a lawmaker, that individual subsequently left the area. Capitol Police officials stated they issued lawful orders for Watson to halt the illegal demonstration or face arrest, which he refused. He was then taken into custody under D.C. Code 22-1307 for Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding.

A D.C. Superior Court official later indicated that Watson is being released and a criminal case against him will not be filed by the D.C. Attorney General's office.

In a video posted online by the Removal Coalition, Watson used his speech to heavily criticize the Trump administration's recent foreign and domestic policies, specifically citing military operations in Venezuela and Iran alongside the administration's ongoing immigration enforcement crackdown. Watson argued these actions violated multiple provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

"For this, the president and vice president must be impeached, convicted, and removed," Watson stated during the broadcast.

Public displays of political dissent are exceptionally rare within active-duty military ranks. Under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), service members are legally prohibited from using contemptuous words against the president, vice president, Congress, and other high-ranking officials. Department of Defense regulations also strictly forbid service members from wearing their military uniforms while participating in political rallies or partisan events.

Jessica Denson, the founder of the Removal Coalition, noted that Watson had contacted the organization via email prior to the event and was fully aware of the potential legal and professional consequences of his actions. Following the arrest, Representative Green posted a video on social media praising the major, stating he witnessed Watson "bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice" by standing up for the constitutional process of impeachment.

Reporting contributed by Martin Goillandeau, Lauren Chadwick, and Katelyn Polantz, CNN.