"Ron DeSantis Supports Navy Vet's Defense of Iowa Satanic Temple Statue Destruction"

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended a former Mississippi congressional candidate who vandalized a satanic display at the Iowa State Capitol, stating that "Satan has no place in our society." The Satanic Temple had received permission to set up the display, which included a statue of the goat-headed idol Baphomet, as part of a two-week shrine. The vandal, Michael Cassidy, claimed he destroyed the statue to protest anti-Christian acts promoted by the government. DeSantis condemned the statue and pledged to contribute to Cassidy's legal fees. The incident sparked a free speech debate, with some lawmakers criticizing the display and others defending it as protected under religious freedom.