Air Force Major Faces Multiple UCMJ Charges for Anti-Trump Statements and Uniform Protest

Maj. Jason Watson, a U.S. Air Force officer, was formally charged on Monday under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The charging document lists three violations of Article 88 for “contemptuous” remarks about President Donald Trump, five violations of Article 92 for disobeying orders, and two violations of Article 133 for conduct unbecoming an officer. The charges stem from a June interview with the *Defenders of our Republic* Substack newsletter, a July 1 protest in uniform at the U.S. Capitol, and an August 17 CNN interview.

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Watson’s July 1 appearance in uniform on the Capitol steps was his first arrest; a second arrest followed days after the August 17 interview. Article 88 prosecutions are rare. A CNN review identified only two convictions since the UCMJ’s 1951 enactment: an Army lieutenant in 1965 for an anti-Vietnam protest and former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller in 2021 for criticism of the Biden administration. Both resulted in dismissals or forfeitures, highlighting the unusual nature of Watson’s case.

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An Air Force spokesperson, in a statement scheduled for August 19, reiterated Watson’s presumption of innocence and noted that the Air Force District of Washington will oversee any trial if the case proceeds to a general court-martial. Watson’s attorney, Chris Mutimer, said his client remains in “pre-trial confinement” for safety and emphasized Watson’s belief in the Constitution and his willingness to act so others “wouldn’t have to.”

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• Charges: 3 × Article 88, 5 × Article 92, 2 × Article 133.

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• Historical precedents: only two Article 88 convictions since 1951 (1965, 2021).

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• Potential trial venues: special court-martial (misdemeanor level) or general court-martial (felony level).

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• “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,” — Maj. Jason Watson, air force spokesperson

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• “Americans place their trust in us,” — Troy Meink, air force secretary

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• “We started having conversations and took this desire that he had to come out very seriously and thought about the best way to make his sacrifice worth it,” — Jessica Denson

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