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.
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.
Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Friday.
He describes himself as a “Christian conservative who loves our nation and is committed to preserving the blessings of liberty bestowed upon us by the Founding generation.”
A lone man, who declined to give his name, sat in front of the display and recited Christian prayers, making references to Jesus.
On Tuesday, he reposted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that included two photos — one of a Thomas Jefferson statue being removed from an unspecified location, and one of the Satanic Temple display.
DeSantis, the Florida governor who frequently campaigns in Iowa ahead of next month’s caucuses, said Tuesday that former President Donald Trump’s administration was partly to blame for the existence of the display, the Des Moines Register reported.
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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.
Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Friday.
He describes himself as a “Christian conservative who loves our nation and is committed to preserving the blessings of liberty bestowed upon us by the Founding generation.”
A lone man, who declined to give his name, sat in front of the display and recited Christian prayers, making references to Jesus.
On Tuesday, he reposted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that included two photos — one of a Thomas Jefferson statue being removed from an unspecified location, and one of the Satanic Temple display.
DeSantis, the Florida governor who frequently campaigns in Iowa ahead of next month’s caucuses, said Tuesday that former President Donald Trump’s administration was partly to blame for the existence of the display, the Des Moines Register reported.
The original article contains 580 words, the summary contains 168 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!