Michael Caruso—the Republican Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller personally appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August 2025—was arrested Tuesday on five felony counts involving the alleged s*xual abuse of a child under 12, a family member.
Charges include kidnapping, lewd or lascivious m*lestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. According to the FDLE affidavit, the alleged abuse spanned 2024–2025 and included incidents during fishing trips and a family cruise. DeSantis immediately suspended him from office.
Caruso, a former state representative and self-described forensic accountant, was DeSantis’s hand-picked replacement after Democrat Joe Abruzzo resigned. He was photographed flashing thumbs-up alongside Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago-adjacent poolside events while sporting the full MAGA aesthetic.
The same political machine that rails against “groomers” and screams “protect the children” every time they spot a rainbow flag just watched one of its own appointees get walked out in handcuffs on child s*x crimes charges.
