Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges

newsAug 18, 2026423,665

Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso was arrested Tuesday morning on five felony charges tied to alleged child sexual abuse, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said. Authorities charged the 67-year-old Riviera Beach resident with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse involving mental injury. An arrest warrant states the victim, who is under 12 and known to Caruso, said Caruso engaged in sexual activity with the child on two occasions, once around Thanksgiving 2024 and again during a family cruise in August 2025. Gov. Ron DeSantis immediately suspended Caruso from office, prohibiting him from performing any official acts or receiving pay while suspended. Law enforcement said the arrest was made with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local agencies; Caruso is to be transported to the Orange County Corrections Department and held without bond pending a first appearance scheduled Wednesday at 10 a.m. The victim’s attorney, Lisa Haba of The Haba Law Firm, said the office intends to make sure the survivor’s voice is heard through the process. Caruso had been appointed clerk last August and was seeking re-election at the time of his arrest.

Forbes

@forbes.com

Michael Allen Caruso is accused of kidnapping and molesting a child younger than 5.

35187h ago

Joe Darkmoon62

Conservative Christians are truly an evil people.

Bruce Disenhouse48

No surprise here. DeSantis is Trump lite incarnate and his circle of friends is as revolting as Trump’s circle is

allanroyx.bsky.social31

"Younger than 5." Diverting funds. The DeSantis years.

Randy Segura 🎨✨🕊️🧑🏽‍🎨26

Why would anyone with an ounce of moral aptitude vote for these sick republicans? Why? Whatever faux news fills their heads with is propagated bullshit and they believe every word! But, here we are the sane people of the world watching this crap in real time..please vote them all into oblivion!!

Art & Soul22

There must be a correlation between being a MAGA and being a sexual predator. It's something in their messed-up brains that connects the two.

mkresists2026.bsky.social17

This is the part that makes it as vile as it gets. She was UNFER 5 and that’s a BABY!! MFer is one sick bastard. Castration should be the punishment! There is a special place in Hell for men like this.

Quoting this

Good Trouble3

He looks like he knows he’s fucked. Good!! One less republican child molester off the streets!

viewfrommyoffic.bsky.social2

Sick fucko. Also- not a drag queen

Truther_Dare2

It’s always the ones you most suspect.

Luca Migo

@victinibcn.bsky.social

GOP state Rep. and DeSantis appointee Mike Caruso was arrested on child sex abuse charges, including kidnapping and molestation. Facing five felonies, he shows a pattern of conservative hypocrisy. Protect kids, not partisan predators! www.rawstory.com/mike-caruso-...

353h ago

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘

@kojamf.bsky.social

Michael Allen Caruso, a former state legislator whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller, was arrested early Tuesday morning on allegations of kidnapping and molesting a child. Read more at: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...

248h ago

Gin&Phonics3

At this point I expect all GOP to be PDFiles

Magnus G. Singleton2

Michael Allen Caruso may serve time, but in Florida he is automatically a prime political candidate. Voters in Florida love criminals and authoritarians.

sue19721954.bsky.social2

Of course he’s a pedo

plc2

they are pedophiles, all of them.

S.E. Danesti

@seedanesti.bsky.social

🚨 BREAKING: A Florida Republican lawmaker, Michael Caruso, has been arrested on five criminal charges related to the sexual molestation of a minor under the age of five. Caruso, a close DeSantis aide, is the current Clerk for Palm Beach County.

234h ago

Mickey Kuhns

@mickeykuhns.bsky.social

Mike Caruso — one of DeSantis' closest allies in the state legislature who he appointed as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller last year — has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...

107h ago

Quoting this

Del Wasso5

Not an immigrant. Not Trans. Just another pedophile Republican.

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

@cltampabay.bsky.social

Former Florida Republican lawmaker Mike Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges www.cltampa.com/news/former-...

94h ago

PhillyGirl_in_SWFL 💙 🦅

@phillygirl-in-swfl.bsky.social

Wow, what a surprise, another Repugnantcan pedophile. At least this one is now behind bars. www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...

54h ago

Diego Devereaux

@bigjimmy.bsky.social

Ron DeSantis appointed Clerk of Courts for Palm Beach County, arrested for molesting a young boy. More Republican pedophilia. www.wptv.com/news/palm-be...

34h ago

Kelly Bertram AKA Bravo

@theyreatingthecats.bsky.social

Florida Republican could face death penalty under child abuse law he championed www.rawstory.com/mike-caruso-... A 4 year old little boy. His own grandson. 😢 #PartyOfPedophiles and #GOPPedophileProtectors

22h ago

Hart Cunningham

@hart28.bsky.social

sun-sentinel.com/2026/08/18/palm-beach-county-clerk-of-courts-mike-caruso-arrested-on-child-sexual-abuse-charges/ Jmail.world “85 oligarchs r*ped/murdered 700 children, while grifting OUR gov of $10T, assisting foreign enemies in coup.Seize & Transfer illegal wealth exploitation/treason to victims”

54h ago

Christine Is Fed Up With Republicans

@coralgableswang.bsky.social

Multiple accounts of another republican (appointedby Fl gov DeSatan) outed as a p3d0. www.local10.com/news/local/2...

44h ago

🍀🩵Cindy💙🍀

@cindyandrewsmcgraw.bsky.social

Michael Allen Caruso, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and one of Gov. Ron DeSantis's staunchest allies in the state legislature, was suspended from his role as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts Tuesday after he was arrested on charges of kidnapping and molesting a child.

24h ago

The Sacramento Bee

@sacbee.com

Mike Caruso was booked into the Palm Beach County jail on allegations of kidnapping and sexually molesting a child, arrest affidavit says.

37h ago

Caffeinefreak ☕️

@caffeinefreak.bsky.social

Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso arrested on child sex abuse charges, AG says www.local10.com/news/local/2...

27h ago

Bruce Coffman

@brucecoffman.bsky.social

Every republican accusation is a what? CONFESSION! Republicans are LARGELY child sexual predators. That can be backed up as accurate by a simple search for "republican pedophile." It's fun! Ex-Florida state representative Michael Caruso was arrested today on allegations of child sex abuse. ⬇️

13h ago

3 sources

local10.comPalm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso arrested on child sex abuse charges, AG says nbcmiami.comPalm Beach Clerk of Court Michael Caruso arrested on child sex abuse charges yahoo.comPalm Beach County Clerk of Courts Mike Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges

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Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges

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