Michael Cassidy, the conservative Christian veteran who tore down a Satanic altar in the Iowa State Capitol, was exonerated of “extremist activity” charges during a Navy board of inquiry this week and will be allowed to continue his service as a test pilot and officer in the Navy Reserve.

Cassidy destroyed a statue installed by the Satanic Temple of Iowa at the end of 2023, as first reported by The Sentinel, before he surrendered himself to security officers. Even after Iowa prosecutors dropped hate crime charges against Cassidy in the spring of 2024, the Navy Reserve Forces Command accused him of “extremist activity” as defined by an order issued under the Biden administration and said his actions were inconsistent with the First Amendment.

Cassidy was therefore facing the prospect of an other than honorable discharge. Davis Younts, the general counsel of Stand Warriors and an attorney who represents Cassidy, noted in an interview with The Sentinel that the board of inquiry moved to clear the extremism accusations.

“The board decided by a two to one vote that Michael’s actions should not be considered extremist, did not violate the Navy’s anti-extremism policy, and did not reflect a failure to perform his duties as a Naval officer,” Younts described. “They voted three to zero that he did not fall below the standards of a Naval officer, and voted unanimously to retain him in the United States Navy. He is now able to stay and serve in the Navy and move on with his military career.”

Younts and other members of the defense team presented information on the consistently high service record and evaluations Cassidy has accrued throughout his military career, a reality that Younts said even the Navy prosecutor was forced to acknowledge. Several character witnesses for Cassidy, including his pastor, also testified on his behalf during the board of inquiry hearing.