Former congressional candidate charged with vandalizing Satanic Temple display at Iowa Capitol

A former congressional candidate from Mississippi has been charged with allegedly vandalizing the Satanic Temple of Iowa's statue depicting the pagan idol Baphomet at the Iowa State Capitol.

Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief on Thursday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The charge could carry one year in prison and a $2,560 fine.

The Satanic Temple of Iowa had announced on Facebook its display had been "destroyed beyond repair."

The installation, permitted under state rules governing religious displays in the building, has been debated and criticized by Iowa and national politicians. Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis on Tuesday joined a chorus of Republicans calling for its removal while others in the GOP said that, though it is offensive, it is a protected form of free speech. Gov. Kim Reynolds called the display "objectionable" and called for Iowans to pray in response.

More: Satanic Temple says part of display in Iowa Capitol 'destroyed beyond repair'

"In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the Nativity scene that will be on display ― the true reason for the season," she said.

Crowdfunding campaign for man charged in vandalism reportedly raises $20,000

Newsweek reported a crowdfunding campaign was launched for Cassidy's legal fund, which raised its target of $20,000. Some donors included conservative campaign group Turning Point USA, which gave $10,000. DeSantis said on X he also would contribute.

Cassidy posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, thanking people for their support. He said the campaign raised enough money "in just a couple hours."

But hours later on Friday, he returned to X, saying he had reopened the fund.

"I’ve been notified of more potential legal charges unfortunately, so I’ve opened the legal fund donation back up," he wrote, promising that "all donations in excess of what is directly related to my defense shall be donated to a Christian legal fund."

The solicitation for donations on GiveSendGo, the contribution platform, said Cassidy "tore down and beheaded a Satanist altar erected in the Iowa State Capitol." It said he "pushed over and decapitated this Satanic statue before he discarded the head in a trash can."

"Out of the millions of Christians in this nation, Cassidy was the first to act in bravery and conviction," it said. "He was not willing to see God reviled, especially in a building where lawmakers are supposed to honor Jesus Christ as King and look to his law for wisdom as they legislate with justice and righteousness."

An online publication, The Sentinel, said it sponsored the fundraiser and quoted Cassidy in an interview as saying he destroyed the display to "awaken Christians to the anti-Christian acts promoted by our government." The article said Cassidy surrendered to police officers after the vandalism.

“The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the founders would have considered government sanction of Satanic altars inside Capitol buildings as protected by the First Amendment,” it quoted Cassidy as saying “Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water.”

Cassidy, in a separate X posting, defended the attack and criticized those who, while saying they found the display offensive, took the position that it was permitted as an exercise of free speech.

"To Christians who defend Satanic altars when they speak with their church, family, friends, coworkers, or on @X: Would you use the same argument if you were speaking with God? Think on that," he wrote.

Cassidy forced GOP incumbent into runoff in House race

Cassidy ran for the Mississippi 3rd Congressional District in 2022, losing against incumbent Republican Michael Guest. On his LinkedIn page, he lists himself as a former active duty Navy pilot, now a Naval reservist, and a civilian test pilot. A native of Virginia, he says he has a bachelor's degree in history from Virginia Tech and a master's in liberal arts from Harvard University's extension service, with a focus on government.

"I'm a Christian conservative who loves our nation and is committed to preserving the blessings of liberty bestowed upon us by the Founding generation," he said on his campaign website.

He ran on a platform that, according to Mississippi Today, included providing newlyweds with a $20,000 wedding gift, "paid back if the couple divorces." He also endorsed allowing all citizens to enroll in Medicare, regardless of age ― a position similar to U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for All."

He finished second in his three-candidate congressional race and forced incumbent U.S Rep. Michael Guest, R-Mississippi, into a runoff, but Guest won that vote handily.

Facebook posting says Satanic Temple plans 'closing ceremony' for display

The Satanic Temple in its Facebook posting about the attack on the display said the Baphomet idol, a robed effigy with a gilded ram's head holding a ribbon-bedecked pentangle, was the primary target. On Friday, the display seemed to be mostly disassembled, with the original candles and body of Baphomet rearranged. Christian offerings and a rosary had been placed near the display and a man sat in front of it, praying.

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services, which oversees the Capitol, allowed the display for two weeks under rules that permit religious installations. On Facebook, Mortimer Adramelech, identifying himself as minister of Satan and a council member of the Satanic Temple of Iowa, called on Iowa satanists to gather at the Capitol at 10 a.m. Saturday for "our closing ceremony."

"YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!" he wrote, adding, "Dress in your Satanic best and get ready to hail Satan."

In a news release, Jason Benell, president of the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers, condemned the attack and accused Republican elected officials, including Reynolds, of encouraging it.

"Not only was that display targeted, but it was also targeted specifically by Christians, for sectarian religious reasons. This targeting was encouraged by legislators and even had the Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds, calling it 'evil.' This is unacceptable," Benell wrote. "When our leaders make it permissible to destroy religious ― or non-religious- displays they find religiously objectionable, they are abdicating their responsibility to safeguard the freedom of expression of the citizens they represent."

Staff writers Stephen Gruber-Miller, Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez and Jose Mendiola contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Michael Cassidy charged with vandalizing satanic display at Iowa Capitol