Former Mississippi House candidate charged after Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol
apnews.com
A former candidate who ran unsuccessfully for the Mississippi House of Representatives is accused of destroying a Satanic Temple display inside the Iowa Capital in Des Moines.

A Satanic Temple display inside the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was recently defeated in a statehouse election in Mississippi is accused of causing the damage.

The display is permitted by rules that govern religious installations inside the Capitol but has drawn criticism from many conservatives, including presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple on Thursday said the display, known as a Baphomet statue, “was destroyed beyond repair,” though part of it remains.

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

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

  • @ChonkyOwlbear
    44•11 months ago

    IANAL but it looks like the Mississippi hate crime law only covers crimes against people, not property. Guess they didn’t want it to disrupt their cross burnings.

    EDIT: I totally failed at reading comprehension and missed that it occurred in Iowa, not Mississippi. Looks like Iowa hate crime law DOES include " criminal mischief" which covers damage to property.