Maj. Jason Watson was arrested on the House steps on Wednesday at approximately 1:15 p.m. local time after standing in uniform and calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment and removal. Capitol Police said he was arrested after officers gave him lawful orders to stop the demonstration once Rep. Al Green had left the area.
Watson stood there for roughly one minute before officers first approached him, then again one minute later and a third time over a minute later, when he put his sign down and was taken into custody. His sign read “Impeach Convict Remove.”
Capitol Police and the House steps
A Capitol Police spokesperson said, “When the Member of Congress left the area, our officers gave the man lawful orders to stop the illegal demonstration, or he would be arrested.” The spokesperson added, “The man refused our lawful orders.” Capitol Police said Watson was arrested under 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing and Incommoding, and said there are other areas on the Capitol where demonstrating is allowed.
Watson had first been escorted to the bottom of the steps by Al Green before the arrest, then returned to the steps alone. Protesters chanted, “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?” as he was escorted off the steps.
Air Force and Uniform Code
The Air Force said, “Service members must comply with all laws, regulations and policies governing conduct and the wear of the uniform.” The source also says active-duty service members are strictly prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities, especially while in uniform, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Jessica Denson said Watson is currently on leave from his commission post as a logistics readiness officer in Poland, and that he approached the Removal Coalition in February and asked them to create the event for him. She said he was calling on Congress to impeach, convict and remove Trump and JD Vance from office.
Watson’s active-duty status
The Air Force said Watson’s title is staff officer with the current duty station of Bydgoszcz, Poland, and said he entered active duty in late May 2009. That leaves the arrest sitting at the center of a plain procedural question: how the military handles an active-duty officer who used a uniformed protest at the Capitol to press a partisan demand.
