Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida on Tuesday suspended an ally from his role as Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller — the same day the clerk was arrested on child sex abuse charges.
Michael Caruso, 67, has been charged with kidnapping; lewd or lascivious molestation; lewd or lascivious exhibition; luring or enticing a child; and child abuse (mental injury). The news comes a year after DeSantis appointed Caruso — who served in the Florida House of Representatives for seven years — to his clerk role in August 2025. Caruso had also just filed paperwork in February to run for reelection this November.
“Early this morning, with substantial assistance from FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] and local law enforcement, Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse,” Attorney General James Uthmeier said Tuesday morning. “The investigation is ongoing, and we will provide more information to the public at the appropriate time.”
In October 2025, the father of the child, who was under the age of 5, saw the child engage in inappropriate behavior with his brother (placing his genitalia on his brother’s face), according to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, which was included in a document published by DeSantis.