Jesse Watson

Case Summary

Jesse Watson traveled to Washington, D.C. from the Seattle area with co-defendant Tucker Weston, but an FBI statement of facts claims they were separated for much of the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Watson tried repeatedly to contact Weston between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., according to phone records the FBI reviewed. Watson then spent about 12 minutes inside the Capitol, according to the court documents. Surveillance footage shows him filming on his cellphone and taking photos of the Senate Wing and then helping another person hang a Trump flag on a pillar in the Capitol Crypt. Google records show Watson accessed a custom Google map called “1/6/20” several times that morning. The FBI claims it included several event locations in Washington, including “Stop the steal 10 am,” “march on congress 11am,” and “Joint session (the count) 1pm.” Watson and Weston were both arrested Oct. 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Wash. According to a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court, Watson was in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq.

Case History

Watson pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 8/25/2023 to 3 Years Probation; Restitution Of $500; Fine Of $5,000; Special Assessment Of $10; 200 hours of community service. Watson received a full pardon on January 20, 2025

Sources

• Primary Documentation
  NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR
• Primary Documentation
  Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR

Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.