US service member arrested at Capitol after calling for Trump’s impeachment
A U.S. Air Force major was arrested on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday after giving a speech calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Jason Watson’s arrest followed his speech at a press conference organized by the Divestment Coalition. Grassroots activist group said. During the press conference, Watson identified himself as an active duty soldier and wore a military uniform. Democratic Representative Al Green from Texas also attended the event.
US Capitol Police, who confirmed the arrest, said members of the public could not demonstrate on the steps of the Capitol unless accompanied by a member of Congress.
Police said in a statement that Watson was “escorted” to the steps by a member of Congress who “left the area” before police issued Watson “lawful orders to stop the illegal demonstration or he would be arrested.”
“The man refused our lawful orders and was subsequently arrested for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstruction and Disturbance,” U.S. Capitol Police added, noting that there were other spots on Capitol grounds where demonstrations were permitted.
On Tuesday, an official with the D.C. superior court told CNN Watson would be released and that no possible charges would be filed against him. The D.C. attorney general, who will decide not to charge Watson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CNN reached out to the US Air Force to confirm whether Watson was an active-duty service member but did not immediately receive a response.
During his speech, Watson criticized the Trump administration’s recent military actions in Venezuela and Iran and Trump’s crackdown on immigration enforcement, arguing that it violated multiple constitutional provisions, according to a video posted online by the group Removal Coalition.
“This requires the president and vice president to be impeached, convicted and removed from office,” Watson said. It is currently unknown whether Watson has legal representation.
Public dissent is rare within the active-duty military ranks; because service members must obey orders under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which criminalizes disparaging remarks against the president, vice president, Congress and other senior officials. Article 88. Soldiers are also prohibited from wearing uniforms when attending political rallies.
Jessica Denson, founder of the Removal Coalition, which organized the press conference, said Watson reached out to them via email and understood the potential consequences of his actions.
“We started talking and we took his request to come forward very seriously and thought about the best way to make his sacrifice worth it,” he said.
later green posted a video I have been praising Watson’s action on social media.
“I had just left the Capitol and was there to witness a major in the U.S. Army bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Green said. He added that Watson “was in favor of impeaching the president” before he was arrested and taken away.
CNN has reached out to Green’s office for comment.
CNN’s Lauren Chadwick and Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at: CNN.com
