An ex-Navy pilot created a stir when he decapitated a goat-headed statue displayed by the local Satanic Temple at the Iowa State Capitol. Michael Cassidy, a “conservative Christian” from Mississippi, claimed he was “offended” by the Baphomet altar and decided to take its head. Cassidy urges people to reject “such darkness” and embrace Jesus Christ instead.
In December 2023, Cassidy, a former Republican candidate, entered the Iowa State Capitol and was taken aback that the legislature allowed the Satanic Temple to showcase the Baphomet statue. He labeled it a “blasphemous statue” and, fueled by “righteous indignation,” removed its head and placed it in a garbage bag. Cassidy then brought the head to security, resulting in a citation.
Mortimer Adramelech, a minister with the Satanic Temple of Iowa, defended the display, stating, “All religions have equal rights in the public forum under the First Amendment.” The Iowa Department of Administrative Services confirmed the group met the requirements for their display. Initially charged with third-degree criminal mischief—a felony under Iowa’s hate crime laws—Cassidy’s charges were reduced to a misdemeanor in May 2024, resulting in a fine but no jail time. Cassidy tweeted, “Not today, Satan.”
Opinions on Cassidy’s actions were mixed. Some condemned it as a “hate crime,” likening it to vandalizing a synagogue with a swastika, while others supported his stance, with one person commenting, “It’s time to stand against these symbols. Bravo, sir… May you be exonerated and walk away a free citizen.” Cassidy, speaking with the Christian Broadcasting Network, acknowledged the divided feedback: “Some anonymous voices have praised my strong stand against Satanism, recognizing the moral decline in our society.”