Last month, Navy Reserve instructor pilot and former congressional candidate Michael Cassidy of Mississippi was hailed as a hero for beheading a satanic statue on display in the Iowa State Capitol building.
The controversial statue of Baphomet went up alongside other holiday displays in the building after the Satanic Temple filled out all the necessary application materials, prompting widespread outrage. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds even weighed in, calling it “absolutely objectionable,” though she argued the answer to “objectionable speech” was “more speech.”
But Cassidy wasn’t having any of it, turning himself into officers at the building after his heroic deed. The next day he was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, which is a misdemeanor.
"My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted," Cassidy said at the time.
But Polk County prosecutors are taking things further, charging him with a hate crime.
A charging document made public Tuesday charges him with felony third-degree criminal mischief and notes that the act was committed "in violation of individual rights" under Iowa's hate crime statute.
"Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim’s religion," triggering the violation of individual rights enhancement, said Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney's Office.
Cassidy's attorney, Sara Pasquale, declined to comment Tuesday on the new charge. In previous court filings, she has accused the Satanic Temple of making premature filings that, "like the timing and substance of the Satanic Temple of Iowa’s installation of a demonic statue in the capitol building... are only meant to evoke strong emotions and incite others."
Hicks said in a statement that based on information from the Satanic Temple, the cost to replace or repair the statue would be between $750 and $1,500, making its destruction an aggravated misdemeanor. (In fact, the Temple has filed a damage estimate putting the cost to replace the statute at $3,000.) What makes the charge a felony, Hicks said, is the hate crime statute. (Des Moines Register)
Facing up to five years in prison with the new charge, donations have continued to pour in for Cassidy, who has now raised more than $116,000 to assist with his legal defense.
As X account Libs of TikTok pointed out, Cassidy is facing far worse consequences for destroying a homemade statue than anyone did during the BLM protests of 2020.
Violent activists tore down dozens of statues including Columbus, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. None were held accountable or charged with a hate crime.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 31, 2024
Michael Cassidy knocks over a Satan statue made out of household items and gets charged with a hate crime.
Welcome… pic.twitter.com/NdS70sXQKi
Great question @elonmusk.
— Michael Cassidy ✝️ 🇺🇸 (@Mike_Cassidy_MS) January 31, 2024
Thanks to everyone who’s been supportive, I truly appreciate it. It’s important to remember what Jesus said in John 16:33 “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I’ll have more to say soon. https://t.co/C5gnSqYqH0
