Active-duty Air Force Major arrested at U.S. Capitol after public call to impeach Trump
(Maj. Jason Watson being arrested by Capitol Police, 07/01/2026)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Active-duty U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Watson was arrested Wednesday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol after publicly calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, an act of civil disobedience that has fueled a national debate over constitutional duty, military ethics, and the limits of political protest.
Watson, a logistics readiness officer currently on approved leave from his assignment in Poland, appeared alongside members of the Removal Coalition during a press conference outside the Capitol. In prepared remarks, he argued that the Constitution—not loyalty to any political party or president—guided his decision to speak out.
“Our Constitution binds us all together as Americans,” Watson said, adding that he believes his oath as a military officer obligates him to defend the nation’s founding principles even when doing so carries personal consequences.
The Air Force major accused President Trump of committing multiple impeachable offenses, including authorizing military operations without congressional approval in what he described as violations of the Constitution’s War Powers Clause. Watson also alleged unlawful executive overreach involving federal appointments, spending authority, immigration enforcement, and the treatment of peaceful protesters.
After the press conference, Watson walked onto the Capitol steps carrying a sign reading, “Impeach. Convict. Remove.” According to U.S. Capitol Police, officers warned him that demonstrations are prohibited in that specific area unless conducted under limited exceptions. When he refused repeated orders to leave, officers arrested him on a charge related to crowding, obstructing, and incommoding.
Police emphasized that while much of the Capitol grounds permits lawful demonstrations, the Capitol steps remain subject to restrictions designed to protect security and public access.
Watson’s arrest has drawn widespread attention because he remains on active duty, placing both his military career and retirement benefits at risk. Federal law and military regulations impose significant restrictions on political activity by active-duty service members, making his public protest highly unusual.
Supporters argue Watson knowingly accepted those risks in what they view as a principled act of conscience. Removal Coalition founder Jessica Denson called his decision “an extraordinary sacrifice,” saying it demonstrates a willingness to place constitutional convictions above personal advancement.
Representative Al Green (D-Texas), who has repeatedly introduced impeachment efforts against Trump, attended the event and briefly accompanied Watson before leaving the restricted area. Watson later stated that his support for Green was based not on party affiliation but on Green’s willingness to pursue constitutional accountability through Congress.
Whether one agrees with Watson’s allegations or not, his protest highlights an enduring question in American democracy: What responsibility does a public servant have when they believe the government itself is violating the Constitution?
Acts of civil disobedience have long occupied a complex place in American history—from the civil rights movement to anti-war demonstrations—where participants intentionally violate laws they consider unjust while accepting legal consequences to draw public attention to broader constitutional or moral concerns.
Watson’s arrest now places that tradition in a modern context, where questions surrounding executive power, congressional authority, and military neutrality continue to divide the nation.
As the legal process moves forward, the Air Force major’s case is likely to become a focal point in ongoing discussions about the balance between military discipline, free expression, and the constitutional obligations sworn by those who serve.
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See the video below where just moments before his arrest by Capitol Police, Major Jason Watson delivered an historic address to a group of reporters and activists convened in front of Congress, becoming the nation’s first active duty service member to call for the immediate impeachment and removal of the Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance.
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(Sources: Yahoo! News, HuffPost, Medialite, Washington Times, MSN)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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