Former Navy Pilot Faces Charges: The Iowa Capitol in Des Moines witnessed the destruction of a Satanic Temple display, and the accused is Michael Cassidy, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who recently lost a statehouse election in Mississippi.
While the display, known as a Baphomet statue, is permitted by Capitol rules governing religious installations, it has faced criticism from conservatives, including Ron DeSantis, a presidential candidate. The Satanic Temple posted on Facebook that the display was “destroyed beyond repair,” though part of it remains.
Michael Cassidy, a 35-year-old Republican from Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Cassidy, defeated in the Mississippi State House District 45 election by Democrat Keith Jackson, served as a Navy fighter pilot and pilot instructor. His campaign website describes him as a “Christian conservative committed to preserving the blessings of liberty.”
The display, located on the east side of the Capitol near a column and an ornate staircase, remains a source of controversy. A lone individual, reciting Christian prayers in front of the display, adds to the scene. It’s unclear whether he supports or opposes the Satanic Temple.
Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple, distinct from the Church of Satan, identifies as a “non-theistic religious organization” advocating for secularism.
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Cassidy drew attention to the display earlier in the week, posting on X (formerly Twitter) about the removal of a Thomas Jefferson statue and the Satanic Temple display, stating, “We have reached the point where our Capitols are removing Jefferson while monuments to Satan are erected.”
A fund for Cassidy’s legal defense was set up, and after raising $20,000, he initially halted fundraising but later reopened it, citing potential additional legal charges.
DeSantis, campaigning in Iowa, attributed the display’s existence to the Trump administration’s actions in 2019 when the IRS designated The Satanic Temple as a church. Current polls indicate Trump leading in the presidential race against DeSantis and other Republican contenders.
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