Air Force Major Jason Watson Defends Capitol Protest in Article 32 Hearing
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 19
Air Force Major Jason Watson Defends Capitol Protest in Article 32 Hearing
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 19
Summary
Maj. Jason Watson told a military preliminary hearing Friday that his July Capitol protest and later remarks were meant to defend the Constitution, marking his first public court comments since being charged.
The Air Force officer made an uncommon unsworn statement at the Article 32 hearing, saying he acted from his oath rather than partisanship after calling for President Trump’s impeachment.
Military prosecutors argued Watson violated regulations and the Constitution with “vitriolic attacks” on the president, urging the investigating officer to let the case proceed toward a court-martial.
The charges stem from Watson’s arrest in uniform at the Capitol in July and from an August CNN interview in which he repeated criticisms of Trump’s actions on Iran, Venezuela, immigration and the federal government.
The case could become a rare test of how far active-duty service members’ free-speech rights extend when criticizing a sitting president.