Michael Cassidy, 35, got charged for wrecking Iowa’s Satanic Temple exhibit. On December 14, this ex-congressional hopeful from Mississippi smashed their Baphomet statue. He journeyed to Iowa just for this. Seeing the statue, he snapped, calling it evil. Cassidy yanked its head off, calling the materials shoddy. Then he told security. At the time, he was facing a misdemeanor. Could’ve meant a year in jail, plus a $2,560 fine.
Background Profile
Michael Cassidy isn’t just some random. He’s a Maryland native, ex-Navy F/A-18 pilot. Even taught flying in the Navy Reserves and tested planes in Mississippi.
Cassidy’s a Virginia Tech grad with a Harvard diploma. His life’s been about military service. In 2022, he ran for Congress in Mississippi’s 3rd, blasting establishment politics. Called himself an “America First conservative.” Pushed for military might, election security, border control, and shaking up the Pentagon.
He slammed his opponent, Rep. Michael Guest, for his legal background and voting for the January 6 probe. Hired Matt Braynard, a Trump campaign vet, to boost his campaign. Cassidy was against sending military aid to Ukraine too, a minority view in the House.