Summary (tl;dr)

Former Florida State Representative and current Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, Mike Caruso, was arrested on child sexual abuse charges and subsequently suspended from his public office by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Essential Background

Mike Caruso, a Republican, served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2025. In August 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed him as the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Palm Beach County. He was also running for re-election to this position in November 2026.

The Full Story

On August 18, 2026, Mike Caruso was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on multiple felony charges related to child sexual abuse, including kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse (mental injury). The arrest followed an investigation prompted by an Orange County Sheriff's Office report detailing alleged sexual molestation of Caruso's grandson, who was under 12 at the time. Incidents were reported to have occurred between November 2024 and December 2025, including during a fishing trip in Orange County and aboard a family cruise. Shortly after his arrest, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order suspending Caruso from his position as Palm Beach County's Clerk of Courts and Comptroller.

Why It Matters

This arrest and suspension are significant due to Caruso's prominent position as a public official in Florida, a role that carries public trust. The charges against a sitting Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, especially concerning child sexual abuse, raise serious concerns about accountability for those in power within the legal and governmental system. The case also highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and state officials to address child abuse and hold offenders, regardless of their status, accountable.

Geographic Location

• Palm Beach County, Florida, United States (arrest of Mike Caruso and his suspension from Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller)
• Orange County, Florida, United States (location where some alleged incidents occurred and where Caruso will be transferred to jail)
• Virtual/Online (alleged sexual battery occurred on a cruise ship)