Air Force Maj. Jason Watson told an Article 32 preliminary hearing that “discomfort is not contempt” as his lawyers sought to have his case referred to a special court-martial.
In an unsworn statement, Watson said his oath to the Constitution compelled him to act and that his position was nonpartisan.
It was Watson’s first statement since he was charged with 10 specifications under three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
He said he would’ve protested any office that violated the law, presenting his actions as a matter of constitutional obligation rather than party politics.
Civilian attorney Chris Mutimer argued during the Friday hearing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., that the central question is whether Watson committed a crime.
According to Mutimer, the case is not about whether the major’s words were wise.
Watson faces three specifications under Article 88 for contempt toward officials.
He also faces five specifications under Article 92 for failure to obey an order or regulation and two specifications under Article 133 for conduct unbecoming of an officer.
The Air Force major called for the removal, conviction and impeachment of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance while standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in early July. His interviews with the Defenders of Our Republic Substack and CNN also led to specifications under Article 88.
Watson’s defense maintained that criticism does not necessarily amount to contempt.
His lawyers also argued that Article 88 is rarely charged and has been applied inconsistently, making a special court-martial more appropriate than a general court-martial.
A special court-martial addresses offenses at the misdemeanor level, while a general court-martial handles the most severe offenses at the felony level.
The defense relied heavily on the previous military case involving Marine Corps officer Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller.
Scheller publicly criticized U.S. leaders in October 2021 over the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He made the remarks while wearing his uniform in social media videos that went viral.
Scheller pleaded guilty to all six UCMJ violations brought against him. Those included Article 88, Article 89, Article 90, two charges under Article 92 and 27 specifications under Article 133.
He was sentenced to forfeit one month of pay totaling $5,000 and received a punitive letter of reprimand. Scheller later left the Marine Corps in December 2021 after serving for 17 years.
The Marine officer spent nine days in pretrial confinement, while Watson had spent 35 days in solitary confinement as of Monday.
Watson’s lawyers used that contrast while urging officials to send his case to a special court-martial.
The defense also showed a video of War Secretary Pete Hegseth praising Scheller on Fox & Friends. Hegseth said Scheller “showed the kind of backbone the vast majority of politicians would never show, to cut against the grain and put their career on the line, to speak truth, to take accountability when no one else did.”
