Air Force Major Detained at Capitol for Trump Impeachment Call

WHO:

CNN - Jason Watson, a US Air Force major, was arrested.

CNN - President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were mentioned in the context of impeachment.

CNN - Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas attended the event.

Newsweek - Major Jason Watson held a sign calling for President Trump's impeachment.

WHAT:

Truthout - Jason Watson cited “an unconstitutional usurpation of Congress’s authority” to justify his protest.

CNN - Jason Watson was arrested after delivering a speech at a news conference organized by the Removal Coalition, a grassroots activist group.

CNN - Watson stated, "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," according to Jessica Denson, the founder of Removal Coalition.

CNN - Democratic Rep. Al Green praised Watson's actions, stating, "I just left the Capitol grounds, and I was there to witness a major in the United States military bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice."

CNN - Jason Watson was arrested on the steps of the US Capitol after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment of President Trump and Vice President Vance.

CNN - Watson was arrested for "22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding."

CNN - Watson criticized the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela and Iran and immigration enforcement, stating, "For this, the president and vice president must be impeached, convicted, and removed."

CNN - Watson was released, and a possible case against him will not be filed.

WHERE:

CNN - The event took place on the steps of the US Capitol.

WHEN:

CNN - The arrest occurred on a Wednesday (exact date not specified).

WHY:

CNN - Public dissent within active-duty military ranks is rare due to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which criminalizes contemptuous words against the president and other officials under Article 88.

CNN - Watson's speech was motivated by his belief that the actions of President Trump and Vice President Vance violated multiple constitutional provisions.

HOW:

CNN - Watson was escorted to the steps by a member of Congress, who then left the area before police issued lawful orders for Watson to stop the demonstration.

CNN - Watson identified himself as an active-duty service member and wore a military uniform during the event.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 04:17 UTC)

Jason Watson has cited what he calls "an unconstitutional usurpation of Congress’s authority" as the basis for his protest. This statement was made during an event that took place at 04:17 UTC. Watson's remarks have sparked discussions about the balance of power within the government.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 23:25 UTC)

Jason Watson was arrested after delivering a speech at a news conference organized by the Removal Coalition, a grassroots activist group. According to Jessica Denson, the founder of the coalition, Watson emphasized the importance of making a sacrifice meaningful, which drew praise from Democratic Rep. Al Green, who noted witnessing a major in the military take a stand for justice. Public dissent within active-duty military ranks is rare due to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which prohibits contemptuous words against officials, and Watson was escorted away by a member of Congress before police issued orders for him to stop the demonstration.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 19:32 UTC)

A U.S. Air Force major named Jason Watson was arrested on the steps of the U.S. Capitol after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment of President Trump and Vice President Vance, citing their military actions and immigration enforcement as violations of constitutional provisions. Watson, who was wearing his military uniform during the demonstration, was charged with "22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding," but he was released afterward with no case expected to be filed against him. Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas attended the event, where Watson held a sign advocating for the impeachment of both leaders.