Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso following his arrest on five felony charges involving allegations of sexual abuse of a child.
Caruso was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child and child abuse involving alleged mental injury.
DeSantis’ order states that Caruso’s arrest and the conduct outlined in an attached Florida Department of Law Enforcement affidavit constitute grounds for suspension under Article IV, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution, which gives the governor authority to suspend county officers for certain misconduct, including the commission of a felony.
The suspension took effect immediately.
Caruso is barred from performing official duties, receiving pay or exercising the privileges of the office while the suspension remains in place. DeSantis also directed FDLE to assist with the transition and ensure that records, computers and other materials are not removed from the clerk’s office.
According to the FDLE affidavit, the alleged victim is Caruso’s grandson, who was under 12 during the period in question. Investigators allege misconduct beginning in Orange County in 2024 and continuing through an August 2025 family cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
A Ninth Judicial Circuit judge found probable cause and issued an arrest warrant on the five felony counts. The allegations have not been proven in court.
