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

A former congressional candidate from Mississippi charged with vandalizing the Satanic Temple of Iowa's display depicting the pagan idol Baphomet at the Iowa State Capitol says he “saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged.”

“My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree," Michael Cassidy of Lauderdale, Mississippi, told conservative website The Sentinel. "And so I acted.”

Cassidy, 35, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief on Thursday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Conviction could carry a sentence of 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 allowing religious displays in the building during the holidays, 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. 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'

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

The Sentinel said it launched a crowdfunding campaign for Cassidy's legal fund, which quickly raised its target of $20,000. Donors included conservative campaign group Turning Point USA, which gave $10,000. DeSantis said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that he also would contribute.

Also in a post on X, Cassidy thanked people for their support. He said the campaign raised enough money "in just a couple hours."

But 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."

Donations by 4 p.m. had reached almost $40,000.

Sgt. Alex Dinkla, a spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol, declined to comment on whether Cassidy could face additional charges.

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."

The Sentinel 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,” Cassidy said. “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 protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

"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.

Contacted by the Des Moines Register on Friday, he said he would answer emailed questions, but later said he was too busy. It was not clear whether he was still in Iowa.

Cassidy forced GOP incumbent into runoff in House race

Cassidy ran as a Republican for the Mississippi 3rd Congressional District in 2022, in the primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. 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 race and forced incumbent Guest into a runoff, but Guest won that vote handily and was reelected.

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. But on Friday, the display seemed to be mostly disassembled, with the original candles and body of Baphomet strewn about. 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. That time apparently is almost up, and on Facebook, Mortimer Adramelech, identifying himself as a 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 José Mendiola contributed to this article.

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