In what serves as just the next domino in the extensive pattern of Republicans who can’t seem to keep their disgusting hands off children, Palm Beach County Clerk of the Courts Mike Caruso, hand-picked and appointed to his position by Florida’s right-wing extremist Governor Ron DeSantis, has been arrested on charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor family member, as confirmed by state officials.
Caruso’s arrest was announced on X by Attorney General James Uthmeier: “Early this morning, with substantial assistance from FDLE and local law enforcement, Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse. The investigation is ongoing, and we will provide more information to the public at the appropriate time.”
Jail records confirm the devout DeSantis ally was booked into the Palm Beach County jail on an out-of-county arrest warrant just before 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, August 18th.
The Crime
The arrest warrant out of Orange County confirms that Caruso is facing a total of five felony charges: Kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse (mental injury). A probable cause affidavit states that the sexual abuse against the child, an undefined relative of Caruso’s, began sometime in 2024 and continued until at least August 2025.
The affidavit further alleges that the victim was a young boy, under the age of 12, who lives in Orange County in Central Florida, where Caruso will be arraigned on his charges.
If you report this to the authorities, there won’t be any of me left; I can tell you that.
According to an additional probable cause affidavit, the young boy’s father became aware of the sexual abuse being perpetrated against his son by Caruso in October 2025, after witnessing his son engaging in disturbing sexual behavior with his younger brother.
The boy’s father immediately intervened, which prompted the young boy to finally tell his father that, during a cruise with Caruso over the summer, the man had showered with him and performed a lewd sex act. An interview with investigators was promptly conducted, where the young boy further disclosed that Caruso had sexually assaulted him in the days before Thanksgiving 2024, as well.
The child’s father ultimately confronted Caruso regarding his son’s gut-wrenching allegations, and Caruso allegedly told the father that he regularly showers with all of his own children, but denied showering with the man’s young son. The now-former county clerk went on to attempt to twist the blame regarding these horrifying allegations onto his own ex-wife, asking the victim’s father if he had spoken with her, claiming that she is “evil” and suggesting that the woman “fabricated the allegations in an effort to poison the child against him.”
The affidavit further confirms that, during this confrontation, Caruso openly acknowledged that one of his own daughters had made similar allegations of sexual abuse against him.
The father went on to confront Caruso’s current wife, Tracy, who vehemently asserted that her husband could be arrested and that these sorts of charges were a “life in jail kinda thing.”
In a second conversation between Caruso and the victim’s father, this one recorded for law enforcement officials, Caruso emphatically claimed that the allegations lodged against him were actually “impossible” because he’s straight, and sexual deviations are always directed towards only the one sex that you are attracted to.
The affidavit confirms that Caruso went on to plead to the father, “If you report this to the authorities there won’t be any of me left, I can tell you that.”
Caruso’s victim is being represented by attorney Lisa Haba, who said in a statement:
“This arrest is a decisive line in the sand. When someone targets a child, they don’t just break the law — they shatter a community’s trust. We intend to make sure this survivor’s voice is heard through every step of this process.”
This Is Far From The First Time…
Records have already proven that this is far from the first time Mike Caruso has been the subject of horrifying, deeply disturbing allegations by both his children and his ex-wife. In fact, his pattern of abuse stretches all the way back to 2001.
In ‘01, Caruso was investigated over allegations that he had physically abused one of his seven children, after the child was observed with welts all across their back, neck, and face, per the Delray Beach police report. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was first to investigate, with Delray Beach Police picking up the investigation soon after. In separate interviews, Caruso’s wife and child both denied the allegations. DCF ultimately concluded that the case was unfounded, and Delray Beach Police ultimately declared it exceptionally cleared.
But that’s not where Caruso’s story of abuse ends. Far from it.
In 2012, Caruso was embroiled in a divorce from his now-ex-wife Beverly, who, in a counterpetition for divorce, alleged that her husband “has severe emotional problems which consist of anger, rage and a history of physical and emotional abuse of one or more of the children.”
She further alleged that one of the children she shares with Caruso “was forced out of the home by the husband” and maintained no relationship with their father.
Caruso pulled a page directly from the domestic abuser’s handbook during his nasty divorce, attempting to turn the tables against his soon-to-be ex-wife by filing a petition for a restraining order that accused her of committing DV against him, alleging that Beverly struck him and tackled him to the ground during an argument.
Caruso’s DeSantis-Riddled Political History
67-year-old Mike Caruso first dipped his toes into the wide open world of politics as a state legislator, beginning in 2018, where he immediately positioned himself as a staunchly devout ally of Florida’s highly controversial governor, Ron DeSantis. After years of making Ron DeSantis’ success his personal mission in Congress, Caruso was appointed to serve as the Palm Beach County clerk of the circuit court and comptroller following Joseph Abruzzo’s decision to resign from the position and take a new one as Palm Beach County administrator.
For once in his miserable, pathetic life, Ron DeSantis actually did do the correct thing in response to Caruso’s arrest, announcing within the hour that the Clerk of Court was officially suspended from public office and would be immediately replaced by current chief of staff and deputy chief clerk, Shannon Ramsey-Chessman, who was sworn in as interim Clerk of Court by Tuesday morning.
In a press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis said, “It was a very easy decision for me to yank him from that position.” When asked whether or not he or anyone within his administration had been aware of the allegations against Caruso, DeSantis responded, “Of course not.”
“He had a clean vet, he was well-regarded in the community,” DeSantis stated in the presser, describing the allegations against Caruso as “horrific.”
What Happens Next?
Caruso raked in a cool $212,385 a year as clerk and was expected to run for official election in November to secure his position. DeSantis’ order suspending him from office does not actually affect his candidacy. However, Caruso can be replaced on the impending November ballot should he resign as a candidate.
However, time is of the essence.
Assuming Caruso will actually resign from his position in all the shame he deserves, Republicans will have limited time to actually get the name of his replacement on the ballot, as it must be done before the primary election results are certified, which takes place 9 days after the primary election, per Florida state law.
If Republicans fail to meet that deadline, a new candidate could still run for the job, but Caruso’s name would remain on the ballot, and notices would be placed to inform voters that casting their vote for Caruso would count as a vote for whomever his replacement was.
Former clerk and current county administrator Abruzzo said:
“No title, political affiliation, personal relationship, or position of influence places anyone above accountability. Governor DeSantis acted appropriately and decisively in immediately suspending Michael Caruso from office. I have complete confidence in Shannon Ramsey-Chessman as she assumes leadership of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office. Shannon served as my Chief Deputy Clerk and Chief of Staff, and I know firsthand that she is a remarkable person and an exceptionally capable public servant. She possesses the integrity, experience and steady judgment necessary to lead the office through this difficult moment while protecting the public’s records, finances and trust.”
In a statement on social media, the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office said of Caruso’s arrest: “While this is surprising news for our entire team, it does not change who we are at the Clerk’s office or our commitment to the community and customers we serve. For decades, the Clerk’s office in Palm Beach County has consistently stood for professionalism and outstanding service for our customers. That focus remains for every one of our 650 employees.”
Interestingly enough, during his time in the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 87, Caruso was a huge backer of what is now known as the 2023 Florida Capital Sexual Battery law. This piece of legislation allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for any adult who has been convicted of sexual battery against a child under the age of 12. Caruso voted in favor of this bill on April 13, 2023. It was signed by DeSantis in May 2023 and took effect six months later.
We can only hope that Caruso will soon fall on his own sword of poetic justice.