Air Force Major in Hot Water After Public Trump Protest

An Air Force officer who once staged an anonymous hunger strike against President Trump is now under investigation for a far more public protest. Maj. Jason Watson remains in military custody after he climbed the Capitol steps in uniform last week and held up a sign that read, "Impeach. Convict. Remove," reports the Washington Post. The move was organized by the Removal Coalition, a grass-roots group, per the New York Times. Police detained him Wednesday after roughly three minutes, citing a law that generally bars protests on the House steps without a member of Congress present.

That misdemeanor charge was dropped the next day, but Watson, 40, is now under Air Force investigation and being held at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC. Military rules prohibit partisan activity in uniform and "contemptuous words" about top civilian leaders while on duty. "I expect every Airman and Guardian to comply with all laws and policies governing personal conduct, political participation, and the wear of the uniform," said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. Watson, a 2009 Air Force Academy graduate, had previously protested Trump during a 22-day hunger strike last year, but he wore a white mask and did not identify himself.