Main Facts:
In a post on X, DeSantis stated that “the devil has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a ‘religion’ by the federal government,” adding that he would contribute to the legal fees for the accused.
Forbes magazine reached out to DeSantis’s campaign for information regarding the amount he intends to donate and whether it has already been contributed.
Michael Cassidy, a 35-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who ran for Congress in Mississippi, has been charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief for vandalizing the statue, according to the Des Moines Register.
The display featured a statue of the pagan deity Baphomet, a goat-headed figure adorned with mirrors and electric candles, along with the Seven Tenets of the Satanic Temple.
On Thursday, the Satanic Temple in Iowa posted on its Facebook page that it had been informed by authorities that “the Baphomet statue in our holiday display was irreparably destroyed,” adding that it would continue to display the undamaged portions.
Important Quote:
“Good triumphs over evil – that is the spirit of Americans,” DeSantis said in a tweet on Friday morning.
The Big Number:
$30,586. This is the amount raised by a crowdfunding campaign to help cover Cassidy’s legal fees even before 2 PM EST. The page stated it raised the target amount of $20,000 in three hours on Thursday but reopened for donations on Friday due to “legal challenges and expected expenses that are much higher.” Any funds exceeding legal costs will be transferred to “a nonprofit that assists Christian service members in similar cases,” according to the crowdfunding page.
Main Background:
The Satanic Temple’s holiday display was one of several exhibits – including a traditional nativity scene – showcased at the state capitol this season. Iowa’s legislative assembly law allows this legally under its “all displays or none” policy, according to state representative John Danilson (Republican), and it was approved by the Department of Administrative Services, which does not practice “religious discrimination.” Republicans in Iowa had mixed views about the statue, with at least one calling for its removal and another, Danilson, calling it an example of personal freedom. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) stated in a statement on Tuesday that she found the statue “absolutely unacceptable” but believed “the best response to unacceptable speech is more speech,” urging others to pray “over the capitol.” In a statement following the display’s controversy, the Satanic Temple thanked the capitol, capitol police, and the Department of Administrative Services for “upholding the principle of religious freedom and ensuring all religions have an equal opportunity to celebrate the holidays together in our beautiful capitol.”
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