Ex-Mississippi House candidate charged after Satanic Temple show is destroyed at Iowa Capitol

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Satanic Temple show contained in the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was just lately defeated in a statehouse election in Mississippi is accused of inflicting the harm.

The show is permitted by guidelines that govern spiritual installations contained in the Capitol however has drawn criticism from many conservatives, together with presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple on Thursday mentioned the show, generally known as a Baphomet statue, “was destroyed beyond repair,” although a part of it stays.

Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree felony mischief, the Iowa Department of Public Safety mentioned Friday. He was launched after his arrest.

Cassidy is a Republican who was defeated by Democrat Keith Jackson in Mississippi State House District 45 in November.

Cassidy’s marketing campaign web site stays lively. The biography on it says he served as a Navy fighter pilot and a pilot teacher. He describes himself as a “Christian conservative who loves our nation and is committed to preserving the blessings of liberty bestowed upon us by the Founding generation.”

In 2022, Cassidy ran towards incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Guest and misplaced in a major runoff after fewer than 300 votes separated them within the major. Guest gained the runoff with almost 70% of the vote.

Messages left Friday with Cassidy and with The Satanic Temple weren’t instantly returned.

On Friday, a part of the show remained on the website within the Capitol. A lone man, who declined to present his title, sat in entrance of the show and recited Christian prayers, making references to Jesus. It wasn’t instantly clear if he was a supporter or detractor of the Satanic Temple.

The show is on the east aspect of the Capitol beside a column and an ornate staircase. It’s about 100 ft from a Christmas tree displayed within the rotunda.

Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple doesn’t imagine in Satan however describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates for secularism. It is separate from the Church of Satan, which was based within the Sixties.

The show caught Cassidy’s consideration earlier this week. On Tuesday, he reposted a message on X, previously generally known as Twitter, that included two pictures — considered one of a Thomas Jefferson statue being faraway from an unspecified location, and one of many Satanic Temple show.

“We have reached the point where our Capitols are removing Jefferson while monuments to Satan are erected,” the message learn.

A fund was set as much as elevate cash for Cassidy’s authorized protection following his arrest. After $20,000 was raised, Cassidy wrote on X that the fundraising was halted.

But late Friday morning, Cassidy wrote that he had “been notified of more potential legal charges unfortunately, so I’ve opened the legal fund donation back up.”

The Polk County Attorney’s workplace declined remark.

DeSantis, the Florida governor who incessantly campaigns in Iowa forward of subsequent month’s caucuses, mentioned Tuesday that former President Donald Trump’s administration was partly in charge for the existence of the show, the Des Moines Register reported. Trump was president in 2019 when the Internal Revenue Service decided that The Satanic Temple ought to be designated a church.

Polls present Trump with a large lead over DeSantis and different Republicans operating for president.

• Salter reported from O’Fallon, Missouri.