Major Jason Watson, an Air Force officer with 17 years of service, faces rare criminal charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for publicly criticizing President Trump, according to charging documents his attorney shared with CNN on August 24, 2026. Watson is charged with three violations of Article 88 for alleged “contemptuous” remarks about the president, five violations of Article 92 for allegedly disobeying orders, and two violations of Article 133 for alleged conduct unbecoming an officer.
Watson was first arrested on July 1, 2026, while protesting in uniform at the steps of the U.S. Capitol after attending a news conference organized by the Removal Coalition, an activist group calling for Trump’s impeachment. He was arrested again on August 19, just days after criticizing Trump during a CNN interview with Erin Burnett. In that interview, Watson stated: “Not only is (Trump) a failure as president, he is flagrantly violating the Constitution, breaking the law, engaged in rampant corruption, and is killing Americans.”
The Article 88 charges are connected to three separate incidents: a June interview with the Defenders of our Republic Substack newsletter, the July 1 Capitol protest, and the August 17 CNN interview. According to his attorney Chris Mutimer, Watson is currently held in “pre-trial confinement”—the military equivalent of being denied bail in civilian court—and is in solitary confinement for his safety.
Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits commissioned officers from using “contemptuous words” against the president, vice president, Congress, or other senior officials. The statute defines “contemptuous” as words that are “insulting, rude, and disdainful” or “otherwise disrespectfully attributing to another a quality of meanness, disreputableness, or worthlessness,” according to legal guidance reviewed by CNN.
Courts-martial for Article 88 violations are exceptionally rare. CNN’s review identified only two convictions since the modern Uniform Code of Military Justice was enacted in 1951. In 1965, Army Lieutenant Henry Howe was convicted after he participated in an off-base protest against the Vietnam War in El Paso, Texas. Howe was sentenced to dismissal from the service—the equivalent of a dishonorable discharge for an officer—and one year in military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara later granted him parole, ending his sentence early.
The most recent Article 88 conviction occurred in 2021, when former Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller pleaded guilty to contempt of officials and other charges linked to social media videos criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Scheller was sentenced to a $5,000 pay forfeiture and resigned from the Marine Corps without pension as part of a plea agreement. The Trump administration has since appointed Scheller as a senior adviser to the Pentagon’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
Frank Rosenblatt, a retired Army judge advocate and associate law professor at Mississippi Christian University, told CNN that the standard for “contemptuous” words under Article 88 is “less than precise” in military guidance. He suggested that a pretrial hearing known as an Article 32 proceeding may be required to assess whether Watson’s remarks “are true or are fair criticisms” of the president rather than pure contempt.
Watson’s case remains under investigation by the Air Force District of Washington. It is unclear whether his case will be referred to trial, and if so, whether it will be tried as a special court-martial—roughly equivalent to a misdemeanor trial—or a general court-martial, which is analogous to a felony trial and can result in more severe sentences. According to his attorney, Watson has stated that he acted “so others wouldn’t have to” and to share his message with anyone who feels scared or alone about Trump’s policies.
The charges against Watson have renewed scrutiny of Article 88 itself. In a March 2026 analysis, legal scholars at Just Security argued that the statute’s definition of contemptuous speech should be reformed, noting that military guidance on the provision lacks clarity and can be used to suppress legitimate political speech by officers.
Sources
- CNN — charging documents, details of Article 88 charges, precedent cases (Howe 1965, Scheller 2021), legal analysis
- KLTV — Watson’s potential penalties and pretrial confinement details
- CBS News — Watson’s 17 years of service and prior detention
- New York Times — Watson’s statements and willingness to accept punishment
- NBC News — Capitol arrest details and Trump criticism on Iran and Venezuela
