Washington, D.C. — Following the Article 32 preliminary hearing in United States v. Major Jason P. Watson, the preliminary hearing officer has recommended that several of the charges against Major Watson be dismissed.
The hearing officer found no probable cause to support the allegations that Major Watson engaged in prohibited partisan political activity. The defense had argued that Major Watson’s statements addressed matters of public concern, not partisan politics — they backed no party and no candidate, and were not delivered at a partisan political event.
The recommendation is worth understanding. To move a charge forward, the government had to satisfy the lowest standard in the justice system: reasonable grounds to believe an offense occurred. On these allegations, it could not — which fairly calls into question the charges it chose to bring.
Much of the defense presentation was handled by Major Heather Bruha, a Senior Defense Counsel with more than ten years of military criminal litigation experience. Major Bruha argued the defense case and cross-examined the government’s only witness, drawing out concessions that exposed the weakness in the government’s case. She also objected to the restrictions the military placed on public and press access — limits on how many members of the media and family could attend, a prohibition on cameras and video in the courtroom and on the installation, and a bar on cell phones in the courtroom. Christopher J. Mutimer delivered the defense closing.
“Major Watson has fought to be heard, and this is a meaningful step in that fight,” said Mr. Mutimer. “We are confident in his defense, and we intend to press every issue on his behalf as the case moves forward.”
The matter now goes to the Convening Authority, who decides whether and how it is referred. The defense has asked that, if the case proceeds, it be resolved at a special court-martial. Major Watson is presumed innocent, and no charge has been proven.
The preliminary hearing officer’s report has been marked Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), restricting its release to the public. The defense closing argument is available here.
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Headquartered in Washington, DC, Monument Legal handles criminal defense, federal defense, and personal injury matters in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 2024 by Christopher J. Mutimer and Jay P. Mykytiuk, the firm represents clients in state and federal courts across all three markets.