DeSantis ally and Palm Beach clerk arrested on multiple child abuse charges
Former Florida legislator Michael Allen Caruso, a close supporter of Governor Ron DeSantis, was taken into custody on several child-sex-abuse allegations and immediately removed from his clerk of courts position.
Michael Allen Caruso, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and one of Governor Ron DeSantis's most loyal legislative allies, was arrested on Tuesday on multiple charges including kidnapping, child molestation, luring, and lewd exhibition. Authorities say the alleged victim was a boy under five who was reportedly abused on several occasions last year, prompting the family to involve law enforcement. DeSantis, who appointed Caruso as Palm Beach County clerk of courts in August, promptly suspended him from the post following the arrest.
Caruso has faced earlier accusations of child sexual abuse from his first wife and other reports to the Florida Department of Children and Families, all of which he denied. He served in the state House from 2018 until his resignation in August 2025 and was known for backing the governor on high-profile conservative measures. A defense attorney has not been identified and Caruso has not issued a statement.
Why it matters
A prominent political figure's arrest on serious child-abuse charges raises concerns about public trust and accountability in government.
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