"Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing Iowa Capitol Statue"

Michael Cassidy, a former congressional candidate from Mississippi, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree criminal mischief for destroying a statue of the pagan idol Baphomet at Iowa's state Capitol. The plea deal drops a felony hate crime charge and includes two years probation, a civil penalty, and potential restitution. The statue was part of a display by the Satanic Temple of Iowa, which advocates for secularism.