Christian veteran who beheaded Satan statue at Iowa capitol to face additional charges

On Friday, Michael Cassidy, the Christian veteran who was arrested after beheading the Satanic idol that was placed in the Iowa State Capitol by The Satanic Temple, revealed that additional charges may be brought forth against him.

"I’ve been notified of more potential legal charges unfortunately, so I’ve opened the legal fund donation back up," Cassidy, who previously ran for Congress in Mississippi, wrote on X. "All donations in excess of what is directly related to my defense shall be donated to a Christian legal fund."

According to the GiveSendGo page set up for Cassidy by The Sentinel, an additional investigation has been opened into Cassidy in relation to the beheading of the Baphomet idol.

Around $20,000 was raised by the campaign in less than three hours, the amount initially needed when he was facing just a count of fourth-degree criminal mischief. 

"His legal team believes it is not yet appropriate to reveal details of the investigation. In the event that excess funds are raised, they will be forwarded at the discretion of Cassidy to a nonprofit that helps Christian service members in similar situations," the page states.

Cassidy told The Sentinel on Thursday evening, "The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the founders would have considered government sanction of Satanic altars inside Capitol buildings as protected by the First Amendment." 

"Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water."

“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,” Cassidy said. “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”

He pushed over and beheaded the statue, dropping the head in the trash. The statue was placed in the building by members of the Satanic Temple of Iowa after receiving permission to do so, along with other groups that set up their own holiday displays.

Cassidy wrote on X on Friday morning, "To Christians who defend Satanic altars when they speak with their church, family, friends, coworkers, or on X: Would you use the same argument if you were speaking with God? Think on that."

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk pledged $10,000 from the organization on Thursday evening toward Cassidy’s legal fund.