An active-duty U.S. Air Force major was arrested Wednesday on the Capitol steps after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Speech Accuses Administration of Constitutional Violations
Air Force Maj. Jason Watson joined a protest organized by the Removal Coalition and was taken into custody by Capitol Police for demonstrating in a restricted area.
The arrest followed a press conference where Watson, in uniform, accused the administration of multiple constitutional violations.
“Our Constitution binds us all together as Americans,” Watson said. “Like countless veterans before me, military members serving now, I’ve devoted my life in service to our Democratic Republic.”
He argued that the greatest threat to the country comes from within. “The burden of that culpability is much heavier for some amongst us than others,” Watson stated. “Undeniably, and for those with a lion’s share of guilt, such as those currently running the executive branch of the government, the bill must come due.”
Claims on Military Actions and Foreign Policy
Watson cited the president’s orders for military action against Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran without congressional approval as a violation of the War Powers Clause. He claimed those actions resulted in the deaths of 13 service members and injuries to hundreds more.
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“When the President of the United States orders military action against foreign countries absent an emergency scenario where American interests are under imminent dire threat… that’s an unconstitutional usurpation of Congress’s authority,” he said.
Watson also criticized the administration’s decision to grant sweeping authority to an unelected major donor. He said this led to the shutdown of parts of the federal government, broad access to government databases, and the termination of thousands of civil servants.
Allegations on Appointments, Data Access, and Aid Cuts
The moves, he argued, violated the Appointments Clause and Appropriations Clause, exposing Americans’ personal data and cutting support for medical care and disaster preparedness. He linked the changes to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of impoverished people abroad due to the abrupt end of USAID programs.
Additional accusations included directing the Department of Homeland Security to detain individuals without due process and send them to foreign prisons with poor human rights records, as well as actions that he said sponsored violence against peaceful protesters.
Watson called for Trump and Vance to be impeached, convicted, and removed from office.
Arrest Follows Protest with Lawmakers and Activists
Capitol Police arrested Watson after Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) left the area. Demonstrations on the Capitol steps require specific authorization, typically involving a member of Congress. Police had warned him to stop or face arrest. The protest remained nonviolent.
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The event was supported by Free Speech for People, About Face Veterans, constitutional scholar Bruce Fein, and Defenders of Our Republic. Jessica Denson, founder of the Removal Coalition, helped organize it.
“Major Watson demonstrated today the kind of courage our democracy demands,” said John Bonifaz, president and co-founder of Free Speech For People, in a statement.
“He honored the same oath that every Member of Congress has taken—to support and defend the Constitution. His willingness to risk his own freedom stands in stark contrast to those who continue to look away as President Trump commits unprecedented abuses of power.”
The White House and Pentagon had not issued statements on the arrest or Watson’s remarks as of late Wednesday.
Impeachment requires a House majority to approve articles of impeachment and a two-thirds Senate vote for conviction and removal. With Republicans controlling both chambers following the 2024 elections, such proceedings are considered unlikely.
