Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso within hours of his Tuesday arrest on five felony counts tied to the alleged abuse of a young relative, stripping him of his duties and pay while the case proceeds.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso within hours of his arrest Tuesday morning on five felony counts tied to the alleged sexual abuse of a young relative. The suspension took effect immediately under Executive Order 26-170, stripping Caruso of his duties, his pay, and the privileges of his office while the criminal case moves forward. The swift removal sent a clear message that holding public office offers no shield for officials accused of crimes against children.
Caruso, 67, a former Republican state legislator, was taken into custody early Tuesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with assistance from local agencies. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest Tuesday morning, and about an hour later the governor signed the order removing him from office. The arrest landed on the same day Florida voters headed to the polls for statewide primaries, though Caruso had no Republican primary challenger this cycle.
The arrest warrant charges Caruso with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. The alleged victim is a young relative under the age of 12, and the charges were filed in Orange County, where the child's family lives.
Uthmeier said Caruso would be held without bond at the Orange County Jail pending his first court appearance. The attorney general called the investigation ongoing and said additional charges could follow as detectives continue their work. If convicted on the current counts, Caruso faces the possibility of a life sentence.
According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged abuse began in the fall of 2024 and continued across several family settings. Investigators say Caruso abused the boy during a fishing trip, at a Thanksgiving gathering, and aboard a family cruise in August 2025 for which he had purchased ten tickets for relatives.
The case came to light after the child's father reported the abuse in October, prompting the FDLE investigation. When confronted by his son in February, Caruso denied the allegations. Authorities say the case remains active and more details could emerge as it moves through the courts.
DeSantis invoked his constitutional authority under Article IV, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution to suspend Caruso effective immediately. The executive order declares that under his administration, Florida is a law-and-order state, and it bars Caruso from performing any official act, receiving pay or allowances, or exercising any privilege of the office during the suspension.
The order also directs the FDLE to assist with the transition at the clerk's office and to ensure that neither Caruso nor his staff removes any files, papers, documents, records, computers, or storage media. Notably, DeSantis appointed Caruso to the clerk's post on Aug. 18, 2025 -- exactly one year to the day before his arrest -- showing that even the governor's own appointees face full accountability under Florida law.
Caruso was seeking reelection in November and had no Republican primary challenger on Tuesday's ballot, so the suspension leaves the Palm Beach County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller's office in transition. The executive order did not immediately name a replacement, and the office, which manages court records, official documents, and county financial operations, will continue to function while the legal process unfolds.
Under the Florida Constitution, the governor may suspend an officer charged with a felony, and the suspension remains in effect while the case proceeds. For elected officials across the state, the takeaway is straightforward: accusations of crimes against children bring swift removal from office and full prosecution under the law, with no grace for titles, connections, or tenure.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso within hours of his Tuesday arrest on five felony counts tied to the alleged abuse of a young relative, stripping him of his duties and pay while the case proceeds.
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