An ex-Navy pilot caused a stir when he decapitated a goat-headed installation organized by the local Satanic Temple at the Iowa State Capitol. Michael Cassidy, a “conservative Christian” from Mississippi, said he was “offended” by the Baphomet altar and responded by taking its head. Cassidy encourages people to defy “such darkness” and instead “embrace Jesus Christ.”

In December 2023, Cassidy, a former Republican candidate, walked into the Iowa State Capitol and was surprised the legislature allowed the Satanic Temple to display Baphomet. He described it as a “blasphemous statue” and was driven by “righteous indignation” to “tear [the head] off” and put it in a garbage bag. Cassidy then took the head to security and received a citation.

Mortimer Adramelech, a minister with the Satanic Temple of Iowa, explained, “All religions have equal rights in the public forum under the First Amendment.” The Iowa Department of Administrative Services confirmed the group met the application requirements for the display. Cassidy was initially charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony under Iowa’s hate crime statutes. However, in May 2024, the felony charges were dropped, and Cassidy received a misdemeanor judgment, resulting in a fine with no jail time. He tweeted, “Not today, Satan.”

Opinions on Cassidy’s actions were divided. Some condemned it as a “hate crime,” comparing it to spray-painting “a swastika on the wall of a synagogue.” Others praised Cassidy for taking a stand, with one netizen writing, “It is time for us to take a stand against these kinds of symbols. Bravo sir…May you be exonerated and walk away a free citizen.” Cassidy, speaking with the Christian Broadcasting Network, noted the mixed feedback: “Some anonymous voices have applauded my firm stance against Satanism, recognizing the degradation in our society.”