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    Report: Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    A significant step forward…

    A recent report from the New York Times signals that the parent of CBS News, who are set to begin mediation on Wednesday are increasingly inclined to settle the matter.

    CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, is currently in a legal battle against President Donald Trump, who filed a now-$20 billion lawsuit last year (it was initially $10 billion) alleging election interference over the network’s handling of its “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. 

    The New York Times reports:

    In an April 18 meeting, the Paramount board outlined acceptable financial terms for a potential settlement with the president, according to three people with knowledge of the internal discussions. The exact dollar amounts remain unclear, but the board’s move clears a path for an out-of-court resolution.

    Shari Redstone, the company’s controlling shareholder, has said she favors settling the case. She is set to receive a major payday in a pending sale of Paramount to a Hollywood studio, Skydance, that requires sign-off from the Trump administration. Any settlement would ultimately require the board’s approval, and Ms. Redstone has told the board that she is recusing herself from deliberations related to the lawsuit.

    Paramount’s interest in settling has dismayed CBS’s news division, in particular the staff of “60 Minutes,” the country’s most popular weekly news program. Four days after the April 18 board meeting, the show’s executive producer, Bill Owens, abruptly announced he would resign, citing encroachment on its journalistic independence and saying Paramount “is done with me.”

    Owens’ abrupt resignation has sent shockwaves through the industry.

    CBS News staffers have been “on edge” since the abrupt departure of “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, according to a network insider. 

    “Everyone is talking about it, even today,” the CBS staffer told Fox News Digital on Monday, nearly a week after Owens announced his departure. 

    In a memo sent to colleagues, Owens suggested his decision was brought upon by corporate overreach he said impacted his ability to maintain an independent newsroom. 

    “Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience,” Owens wrote in the memo. “So, having defended this show – and what we stand for – from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”

    Report: Colorado Supreme Court To Hear Trump 14th Amendment Appeal

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Colorado Supreme Court will hear appeals weighing whether Donald Trump should be barred from the state’s 2024 ballot due to the 14th Amendment.

    Last week, a judge ruled that former President Donald Trump must be allowed on next year’s Republican primary ballot.

    Trump and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which filed the lawsuit on behalf of six Colorado voters, have both appealed the decision.

    The 14th Amendment disqualification trial focused on Trump’s actions before and during the U.S. Capitol riot and whether they violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 states:

    No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability

    Trump in his appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court said he agreed with the latter part of the ruling keeping him on the state’s ballot but is appealing on other issues.

    “But the district court nonetheless made legal and factual findings wholly unsupported in the law, and these errors demand review – especially if the Petitioners in this matter also seek review of the sole dispositive issue upon which President Trump prevailed,” Trump’s attorneys wrote.

    Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace said in her ruling that that language means the 14th Amendment can’t be used to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot, regardless of whether the then-president’s actions on Jan. 6 cleared the threshold.

    Wallace ruled the presidency was not an “office … under the United States” because the 14th Amendment explicitly lists all federal elected positions, except for the presidency and vice presidency. Wallace further ruled Trump was not an “officer of the United States” in the first place, referencing other constitutional provisions that distinguish the presidency from federal officers. 

    “Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, passed after the Civil War, excludes from federal or state office those who engaged in insurrection against the Constitution after previously taking an oath to support it,” CREW argued in its appeal brief. 

    Media Personality Claims Tucker Carlson Is Frontrunner to Succeed Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Swisher and Galloway were discussing the decline of television in the wake of Kimmel’s suspension from ABC when the conversation turned to podcasters.

    “I think, look, we got to just burn those ships and move on. That’s the thing, because this is how Trump lives. He lives in the 80s in his head, so CBS, ABC, and NBC are the be-all and end-all,” Swisher argued.

    “But they’re not. They’re not influential anymore. We should just move along and make our stuff. We should grow and conservative outlets should grow, whatever it happens to be. I was, although I think Tucker Carlson’s really– something’s going on with him. When he’s articulated, it was absolutely right,” Swisher added.

    “We both have our issues with Tucker. I think Tucker right now is the most likely nominee for the Republican nomination. I think he has been very good lately,” Galloway replied — referring to Carlson’s warning against any kind of free speech crackdown following Kirk’s murder.

    “Well, he’s consistent at least,” Swisher agreed.

    “About housing, for young people, he comes across as intellectually honest. He comes across as courageous, not afraid to go against his own party. And I realize I’m talking our own book here,” Galloway continued, adding:

    Our downloads are up 10 percent in the last 30 days. And guess what? Everyone from Megyn Kelly to Joe Rogan, you’re going to see a lot, increasingly people turn to podcasts like The Daily, because The New York Times is fearless and does the work.

    You’re just going to see media that is not scared of Brendan Carr, or can’t be controlled by Brendan Carr. Boom, because people are really interested in what’s going on, and they like fearless. You know, I’ll give you an example, Don Lemon.

    Watch:

    President Donald Trump is FEARLESS! Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again. [Step up NOW and support Trump]

    Trump Officially Designates Saudi Arabia A ‘Major’ Ally Of United States

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0
      President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud at the Royal Court Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

      President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration is officially designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a move that deepens both the economic and military partnership between Washington and Riyadh.

      The announcement came during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s high-profile visit to the White House. While the event stopped short of being an official state visit—Saudi Arabia’s king is still the formal head of state—the crown prince was welcomed with many of the hallmarks typically reserved for top U.S. partners.

      “We’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them,” Trump said. He also revealed that the two nations had just signed “a historic strategic defense agreement.”

      The designation signals a renewed commitment to a long-standing strategic relationship—one Trump has made clear he intends to strengthen after what many Republicans saw as the Biden administration’s misguided distancing from Riyadh. The previous administration had strained ties over controversies such as the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, even as Saudi Arabia remained a critical partner in regional security and global energy markets.

      Trump also affirmed that he plans to approve Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets, one of America’s most advanced military assets. “I am planning on doing that,” the president said. “They want to buy them. They’ve been a great ally.”

      For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized Saudi Arabia’s growing economic commitment to the United States, announcing the kingdom intends to increase its investment from $600 billion to “almost $1 trillion”—a staggering figure nearly equivalent to the size of its sovereign wealth fund, according to The New York Times.

      The Trump administration has prioritized rebuilding and expanding America’s alliances in the Middle East, particularly in advancing the Abraham Accords, a major diplomatic achievement of Trump’s previous term. Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in joining the framework and normalizing relations with Israel, though the kingdom has stated that progress toward a viable two-state solution remains a core requirement.

      Saudi Arabia played a significant role among Arab nations backing Trump’s brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas—a deal that, if successfully upheld, could bring an end to the conflict in Gaza and set the stage for the development of a future Palestinian state.

      Still, some foreign-policy analysts have raised concerns about sharing high-level U.S. technology, such as the F-35, with Saudi Arabia—especially given Riyadh’s continued defense relationship with China. According to Politico, experts warn that sensitive technology could be at risk of being accessed by Beijing. Nevertheless, supporters of the move argue that strengthening ties with a key Middle Eastern partner is essential to countering adversaries and stabilizing the region.

      President Trump is fighting to make the U.S. Census citizens-only, and he needs every patriot standing with him. ADD YOUR NAME & STAND WITH TRUMP.

      Hunter Biden’s Ex-lawyer Ordered To Pay Former Trump Aide

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      1
      President Joe Biden hugs his family during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

      Hunter Biden’s wealthy attorney pal Kevin Morris — long dubbed his “sugar brother” — has been ordered to cough up $50,000 to a former Trump aide after a legal saga that dragged on for years and fizzled out.

      A California Superior Court judge ruled that Morris must pay Garrett Ziegler and his nonprofit Marco Polo to cover legal costs, closing the book on a bizarre dispute tied to the infamous Hunter Biden laptop.

      The case centered on a 2022 phone call in which Morris believed he was speaking to a Democratic strategist about the laptop. But things took a strange turn when he later received an image of a squid alongside the message “NOTHING IS BEYOND OUR REACH” and the name “Marco Polo” — tipping him off that something was off.

      Morris accused Ziegler of being behind the call and slapped him with a laundry list of claims, including harassment, impersonation, and emotional distress. But the case unraveled when Morris couldn’t prove Ziegler was actually on the other end of the line.

      Ziegler’s attorney, Jennifer Holliday, told Fox News the outcome hardly makes up for the drawn-out fight.

      “It’s not really how I envisioned it would play out, and I don’t think that’s how the Constitution envisions that something like this would play out — which is why we filed a petition with the Supreme Court of the United States to review,” Holliday told Fox News Digital.

      “I certainly hope that they will take a really hard look at what happened here because this is not a situation that should have ever happened,” she added.

      Holliday is now urging the Supreme Court to take a closer look at California’s anti-SLAPP law — meant to protect free speech — arguing it actually dragged out what she sees as a flimsy case.

      Not everyone is buying the high court push. A source familiar with Morris’ side dismissed the ruling as procedural and said the odds of the Supreme Court stepping in are slim, noting Ziegler’s team had originally sought as much as $300,000.

      Meanwhile, Holliday pointed to what she says was a glaring hole in Morris’ claims: zero proof.

      “There was no phone number that was ever presented to the court, to the Court of Appeal, to me, in discovery, anywhere,” Holliday said.

      Ziegler didn’t hold back either, blasting Morris as an enabler of the president’s son.

      “Morris is the one responsible for all the bull—- that Hunter pulled over the last couple years,” Ziegler said, referring to the millions Morris reportedly loaned Hunter Biden — including covering rent, buying his artwork, and even funding access to a private jet.

      Morris has reportedly shelled out around $6.5 million to support Hunter Biden’s lifestyle and legal troubles.

      The Hollywood lawyer has also dipped into politics, donating $29,900 to former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s failed gubernatorial bid — a campaign that collapsed amid sexual assault allegations.

      Swalwell, a vocal defender of Hunter Biden on Capitol Hill, reportedly met with Morris multiple times during congressional probes into the Biden family’s business dealings.

      Now, with the case finally over, Ziegler’s team is ready to press forward if Morris doesn’t pay up — already securing a debtor’s exam request to force compliance within 30 days.

      Read the full document:

      Kevin-Morris-Garrett-Ziegler-judgementDownload
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      Report: Support For Convicted Felon As President Surges

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
        -
        4

        An interesting twist…

        Nearly a week after a Manhattan jury found former President Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records the dust has started to settle.

        According to a recent YouGov poll, Republicans say that they are now okay with allowing convicted felons to be president a significant rise from a similar poll in April.

        YouGov conducted its first poll on the political support of felons on May 31, following the conviction of former President Donald Trump, and the sharp rise is both equally stunning and not at all surprising. 

        The Political Polls account shared the details on social media:

        Similarly, a focus group of undecided voters following former President Trump’s conviction last week revealed mixed reactions to the historic verdict

        According to The New York Times, a transcription of the focus group features 11 swing voters, all of whom have previously supported Trump and President Biden or Hillary Clinton at least once during 2016, 2020 and 2024.

        Undecided voters were asked to discuss the impact of Trump’s guilty verdict in his New York trial and how it will affect their likelihood to vote for him. Some respondents said they were still “torn” after the verdict. However, it wasn’t a decisive factor for many of them. 

        “Inflation, the economy, immigration and abortion were the things that they said would ultimately determine their votes,” the Times notes. 

        James, a 53-year-old from Iowa, commented, “They’ve been going after Trump since he was elected in 2016. Democracy is supposed to be about the will of the people. I don’t really think the majority of the people in this country wanted to see him prosecuted on these charges.” 

        When other participants expressed their hesitancy to vote for a convicted felon, Jonathan, a 37-year-old from Florida, interjected, “You have to remember why Trump is the choice of millions of people. Trump represents a shock to the system. His supporters don’t hold him to the same ethical standards. He’s the antihero, the Soprano, the ‘Breaking Bad,’ the guy who does bad things, who is a bad guy but does them on behalf of the people he represents.”

        Frank, a 65-year-old from Arizona, replied, “The more I see Trump dealing with this, the less confident I am in him. A president’s got to be a step apart from just a good person. And I have a problem with his integrity and ethics. I’m swinging toward probably Biden. And I don’t like Biden. I don’t like him… got no ethics, either.”

        Trump Breaks Silence As Middle East Tensions Reach New Boiling Point

          By
          Madeleine Jackson
          -
          2
          Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

          What will Democrats do?

          Iran has reportedly launched ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for its intensified military campaign against Hezbollah and the recent invasion of Southern Lebanon. In response, Israel’s “Arrow-2” and “Arrow-3” anti-ballistic missile defense systems have been activated, with interceptors reported launching across Central Israel.

          In a statement released mid-morning on Tuesday, the White House said it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” adding the United States was “actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack.”

          “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a senior White House official said in a statement.

          Israel predicted that Iran was likely to attack three Israeli air bases and an intelligence base located just north of Tel Aviv, a person briefed on the matter said.

          The intelligence base in Glilot was reportedly evacuated Tuesday afternoon and the Israeli military has put contingency plans for the safety of personnel at those bases into effect.

          Before Tuesday’s attack, Donald Trump released a lengthy statement.

          Read the full statement below:

          “The World is on fire and spiraling out of control. We have no leadership, no one running the Country. We have a non-existent President in Joe Biden, and a completely absent Vice President, Kamala Harris, who is too busy fundraising in San Francisco, a City which she and Gavin Newscum totally destroyed, and staging fake photo ops. No one is in charge and it’s not even clear who is more confused: Biden or Kamala. Neither has any idea what is even going on.

          When I was President, Iran was in total check. They were starved for cash, fully contained, and desperate to make a deal. Kamala flooded them with American cash and, ever since, they’ve been exporting terror all over, and unraveling the Middle East.

          Under ‘President Trump,’ we had NO WAR in the Middle East, NO WAR in Europe, and Harmony in Asia, No Inflation, No Afghanistan Catastrophe. Instead, we had PEACE. Now, War or the threat of War, is raging everywhere, and the two Incompetents running this Country are leading us to the brink of World War III. You wouldn’t trust Joe or Kamala to run a lemonade stand, let alone lead the Free World.

          It is no surprise that Iran desperately wants Kamala Harris to be President, because they know as long as she is in power, they can take advantage of America. That is why they have tried to target me.

          If I was in charge, October 7th never happens, Russia/Ukraine never happens, Afghanistan Botched Withdrawal never happens, and Inflation never happens. If I win, we will have peace in the World again. If Kamala gets 4 more years, the World goes up in smoke.”

          Trump-Backed Congresswoman Launches Campaign To Challenge Senate Incumbent

          By
          Madeleine Jackson
          -
          3
          President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

          Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) announced Tuesday that she is launching a Republican primary challenge against Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), stepping into the race just days after President Trump publicly encouraged her to pursue a Senate run in Louisiana.

          In a two-minute launch ad, Letlow framed her campaign as part of a broader fight to defend conservative priorities in Washington.

          “I have fought alongside President Trump to put America first, standing up for our parents, securing our borders, supporting law enforcement, rooting out waste, fraud and abuse that drives up inflation and fighting to fix an education system too focused on woke ideology instead of teaching,” she said.

          Letlow argued that Louisiana Republicans want a senator whose votes are predictable when the stakes are highest.

          “A state as conservative as ours, we shouldn’t have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure’s on,” she continued, without mentioning Cassidy by name. “Louisiana deserves conservative champions, leaders who will not flinch.”

          Watch:

          Cassidy responds after call from Letlow

          Cassidy confirmed the news on X, saying Letlow personally called him earlier Tuesday to share her decision to run.

          “She said she respected me and that I had done a good job. I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election,” Cassidy wrote. “I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live.”

          Cassidy has long presented himself as a policy-focused Republican, emphasizing issues such as fiscal restraint, energy development, and hurricane recovery, while also working within the Senate’s institutional framework—an approach that can play well with establishment GOP voters but has faced skepticism from grassroots conservatives in recent years.

          Trump signals support for Letlow

          Letlow’s announcement followed Trump’s recent public praise of the congresswoman, where he encouraged her to make the jump to the Senate. In a Truth Social post, Trump described Letlow as a “TOTAL WINNER!” and said she “has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana.”

          That backing immediately reshaped the race, positioning Letlow as the most prominent Republican challenger Cassidy has faced as he seeks another term. In a state where Trump remains highly popular among Republican primary voters, his involvement is likely to be one of the biggest factors in determining the outcome.

          A political fight years in the making

          Cassidy has been under heavy pressure from many pro-Trump activists since 2021, when he became one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump during his impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump, but the vote left lasting consequences for Cassidy inside Louisiana GOP politics.

          What Letlow is betting on

          Letlow, who has represented Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District since 2021, rose to national attention after winning a special election following the death of her husband, Rep. Luke Letlow, who died from complications related to COVID-19 shortly after being elected.

          Since entering Congress, she has worked to build relationships within the Republican conference while maintaining a strong conservative profile—supporting border enforcement policies, opposing Democratic-backed spending packages, and highlighting cultural issues such as parental rights and education.

          Her campaign’s early tone signals she plans to run as a Trump-aligned conservative focused on the top issues driving Republican voters in 2025: immigration, inflation, crime, cultural pushback in schools, and government accountability.

          New primary rules could raise the stakes

          The race will also unfold under Louisiana’s new closed primary process, a change that could have major consequences. With a more Republican-only electorate participating, Cassidy may face an even more conservative and Trump-friendly primary environment than in previous cycles.

          That shift could make it harder for Cassidy to rely on crossover voters or independents who might otherwise support an incumbent known for policy work and institutional seniority.

          At the same time, a crowded field could still complicate the race. If multiple Republicans enter the primary and divide anti-Cassidy voters, Cassidy could benefit from winning a strong plurality of establishment conservatives, business-oriented Republicans, and voters who prioritize seniority and committee influence.

          A high-profile Louisiana showdown

          With Letlow officially in the race and Trump already signaling his preference, Louisiana is shaping up to host one of the GOP’s most-watched Senate primaries this cycle. The contest will likely test whether Republican voters prioritize seniority and governing experience—or whether they want a more confrontational, Trump-aligned fighter in the Senate.

          For now, both candidates are claiming the conservative mantle. Letlow is promising a senator who will “not flinch,” while Cassidy insists he remains “a conservative” focused on improving life in Louisiana—and says he expects to win.

          “She said she respected me and that I had done a good job,” Cassidy wrote. “I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election.”

          JD Vance has a BIG meeting with Republican leadership coming up and wants to hear from YOU! What are the key issues facing America in 2026? Complete the Republican Leadership Survey and make your voice heard!

          Barron Trump To Attend NYU

            By
            Madeleine Jackson
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            2
            NYU, Greenwich Village, NYC

            Donald Trump’s youngest son will attend business school at New York University (NYU), according to former president Donald Trump.

            “He’ll be going to Stern Business School, which is a great school at NYU,” the 45th president said in an interview with Daily Mail released Wednesday.

            “It’s a very high-quality place. He liked it. He liked the school. We like NYU. I’ve known NYU for a long time. But it’s one of the highest-rated,” Trump said of his youngest son’s college choice.

            Noting that he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s business school, Trump said, “I went to Wharton and that’s certainly one we were considering. We didn’t do that. We went to Stern.”

            The 18-year-old Trump who graduated from high school in May from the Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Fla. was “accepted to a lot of colleges,” the ex-commander in chief said, praising his son as a “very smart guy.”

            “He’s a very high-aptitude child. But he’s no longer a child, he just passed into something beyond childdom. He’s doing great.”

            Barron Trump, with a backpack swung over his shoulder, was seen entering NYU Wednesday accompanied by a security detail.

            Air Force Major Back in Custody After Demanding Trump’s Impeachment

            By
            Madeleine Jackson
            -
            4
            Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

            An active-duty Air Force major who staged a uniformed protest calling for the removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance has been detained for a second time.

            Maj. Jason Watson was placed in pretrial confinement Tuesday, Aug. 18, as the Air Force continues investigating his conduct, a service spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.

            “Based on probable cause to support allegations of continued misconduct,” Watson was ordered into confinement, the spokesperson said. The Air Force emphasized that Watson is presumed innocent and entitled to a review under military court rules.

            Watson had not been formally charged as of Wednesday evening. He was reportedly being held at a county detention facility in Maryland under a military hold.

            The latest detention came one day after Watson appeared for an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett and renewed his criticism of Trump.

            Attorney Expects Military Charges

            Watson’s attorney, Christopher Mutimer, said the major was arrested while reporting for duty Tuesday.

            According to Mutimer, Watson informed his chain of command through counsel that he would no longer wear his uniform. He was then ordered to put the uniform on and was taken into custody roughly 20 minutes later, the attorney told CNN.

            “He expected to be arrested,” Mutimer said.

            The defense expects that Watson could face allegations under Article 88 and Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

            Article 88 prohibits commissioned officers from using contemptuous words against the president, vice president, Congress and certain other senior officials. Article 92 covers violations of lawful general orders or regulations and failures to obey other lawful orders.

            Mutimer stressed that those were anticipated charges rather than charges that had already been filed. Depending on how the case proceeds, Watson could face confinement, loss of pay or dismissal from the Air Force.

            A review of Watson’s continued confinement was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20.

            Arrested on the Capitol Steps

            The military case follows Watson’s July 1 arrest during a protest on the House steps at the U.S. Capitol.

            Watson, wearing his Air Force service uniform, held a sign reading “Impeach Convict Remove” after delivering a speech calling for Trump and Vance to be removed from office. His objections included the administration’s military actions involving Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.

            Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, initially accompanied Watson onto the House steps. Green subsequently left, leaving Watson alone in an area where members of the public generally may not demonstrate unless accompanied by a member of Congress.

            Capitol Police said officers ordered Watson to stop the demonstration or face arrest. He refused to leave, placed his sign on the ground and was taken into custody for alleged crowding, obstructing and incommoding, according to Military Times.

            The D.C. Office of the Attorney General later dropped the civilian charge. Watson was not immediately released, however. Air Force investigators took custody of him and brought him to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington.

            The Air Force subsequently restricted Watson to specified areas of the base while he performed military duties, Military Times reported.

            At that stage, his attorney said investigators were considering possible violations involving contempt toward officials, failure to obey an order, conduct unbecoming an officer and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. No military charges had been filed at the time.

            Political Activity Rules Under Scrutiny

            Active-duty service members retain the right to vote and express personal political opinions, but military rules impose substantial restrictions on partisan activity and conduct that could suggest official military endorsement.

            Defense Department Directive 1344.10 bars active-duty members from certain forms of partisan advocacy and directs them to refrain from political activity while in uniform. Violations of the directive may be prosecuted under Article 92.

            Watson is a 40-year-old Air Force Academy graduate who entered active duty in May 2009. He has served as a logistics officer and was assigned as a staff officer in Bydgoszcz, Poland, before the Capitol protest, according to Stars and Stripes.

            During his CNN interview Monday, Watson said he understood that his public stand could end his military career or lead to prosecution.

            “What’s the highest price that I’m willing to pay?” Watson asked while explaining his decision.

            The Air Force said Watson’s statements do not represent the views or policies of the service. His case remains under investigation.

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