Iowa Man Charged with Hate Crime for Destroying Satanic Temple Altar

Michael Cassidy, a former Republican candidate, has been charged with a felony under Iowa's hate crime statutes for destroying a Satanic Temple altar at the Iowa Capitol, citing the victim's religion as the reason for his actions. The display, which was put up for the holidays, was damaged beyond repair. The Satanic Temple of Iowa emphasized their right to be in the public forum under the First Amendment, while Cassidy described his actions as "Christian civil disobedience" on Fox News.