A man who attacked and beheaded a statue authorized by the Satanic Temple at the Iowa State Capitol in December has been charged with a felony under the state's hate crimes law, the prosecutor's office announced this week.
Michael Cassidy, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for the Mississippi House of Representatives, has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief, violation of personal rights, the Polk County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
“The evidence shows that the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating that he destroyed property because of the victim's religion,” the prosecutor's office said.
Cassidy, 36, was charged with a misdemeanor. This enhanced charge is a Class D felony under Iowa's hate crimes law.
Cassidy, a Lauderdale resident, ran as a Republican for Mississippi House District 45, but lost to Democrat Keith Jackson 55% to 38% in November.
His campaign biography describes him as a former Navy pilot and “a Christian conservative who loves our country.”
Cassidy appeared on Fox News days after beheading the statue, calling it “Christian civil disobedience.”
He said he went to the Capitol and was “offended because there was no one there.” It touched a nerve. As you know, it was righteous indignation. ” Cassidy said on Fox News that the Baphomet exhibit “ripped his head off.”
Iowa Satanic Temple Minister Mortimer Adramelech told NBC affiliate WHO in Des Moines at the time of the vandalism that the exhibit was there for the holidays. The Iowa Department of Administrative Services said the group meets the exhibit application requirements.
“Under the First Amendment, all religions have equal rights in public life. As Americans, we have the same right to be here as anyone else,” Adramelech said. told the broadcaster.
The Satanic Temple says it does not believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural. The group's website says it encourages “effective and artistic protest.”
The display was damaged beyond repair, according to the county attorney's office.
“The Polk County Attorney's Office seeks fair and just resolution of all cases in order to continue to apply the law equally to everyone, regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation, or economic status.” the department said in a statement Tuesday.
Ms. Cassidy's attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment from her law firm Wednesday night.
Encyclopedia Britannica describes Baphomet as a winged creature with a goat's head that was mentioned when the Knights Templar were accused of worshiping Baphomet by King Philip IV of France. .
According to a blog on the issue on the Kokumin Shimbun website, Philip was accused of allegations that members of the Knights Templar were more loyal to the pope than the king, and that Philip was under financial pressure and that the Templars were wealthy. It is said that the members were burned at the stake because of this. British Archives.
