DES MOINES, Iowa (NEWSnet/AP) — A Satanic Temple display at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who recently was defeated in Mississippi election is accused of causing the damage.

The display is permitted by rules that govern religious installations inside the Capitol, but has drawn criticism from many lawmakers, including Ron DeSantis. A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple on Thursday said the display, known as a Baphomet statue, was “destroyed beyond repair,” although part of it remains.

Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, Iowa Department of Public Safety said. He was released after his arrest.

In November, Cassidy was defeated by Keith Jackson in Mississippi State House District 45. Cassidy’s campaign website remains active. The biography says he served as a Navy fighter pilot and a pilot instructor. 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.”

Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple doesn’t believe in Satan, but describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates for secularism. It is separate from  Church of Satan, which was founded in the 1960s.

The display caught Cassidy’s attention earlier this week. 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.

“We have reached the point where our Capitols are removing Jefferson while monuments to Satan are erected,” the message states.

Follow NEWSnet on Facebook and X platform to get our headlines in your social feeds.

Copyright 2024 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.