Mike Caruso was suspended from his role as Clerk of Courts following allegations that he molested an underage child.
But the Palm Beach County Republican Party went ahead and endorsed Caruso as the Republican candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
And Ron DeSantis just called out his own Party after they endorsed a man accused of molesting his own grandson.
The Man They Endorsed Is Accused of Abusing a Child Under 12
Caruso isn't facing some vague allegation from decades ago.
He's facing five felony counts: kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury.
The arrest affidavit details abuse spanning nearly a year, including incidents during a family cruise Caruso purchased for relatives in August 2025 – and the child victim is a young male relative under the age of 12.
https://twitter.com/j_fishback/status/2107202742536352171?s=20
Caruso was arrested by FDLE in August 2026 and is currently held without bond in Orange County.
DeSantis yanked him from his appointed position the same day the handcuffs went on, calling the accusations "truly horrific allegations."
Then the county party endorsed him anyway.
DeSantis Put the County GOP on Blast
He went public on X, responding directly to news of the endorsement.
"We serve our party best by putting our citizens, state and country first," DeSantis wrote. "Disappointing to see this endorsement. Some things are bigger than party."
Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power backed the governor up, making clear the state party cut ties the moment Caruso was arrested.
"Mike Caruso has every right to defend himself," Power wrote, "but he does not have the time or platform to run a campaign. He should have stepped aside to allow the party to move forward."
Sen. Rick Scott called the endorsement "disgusting" and demanded Caruso withdraw immediately.
https://twitter.com/FLVoiceNews/status/2090192612615451005?s=20
The pressure worked – within hours, the Palm Beach GOP pulled its original voter guide and posted an updated version without Caruso's name.
The county party argued Florida statute required listing every Republican nominee and that they removed him the moment they were legally permitted to do so.
Caruso is unmoved.
"I maintain my innocence and remain a candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller," he said through his spokesman. "My name is on the November ballot, and I intend to win this election."
The Ballot Problem That Has No Clean Solution
Here's what makes this situation worse than it looks.
The deadline to replace Caruso's name on the November ballot has already passed.
Palm Beach County voters will walk into a polling booth and see his name – no matter what any party official says between now and then.
A man accused of sexually abusing a child on a family cruise could win a county constitutional office because not enough voters knew what happened.
DeSantis already has the legal authority to block him from ever taking the position – a conviction ends the question permanently – but the fact that this is even a conversation is obscene.
The county party hid behind a statute.
That answer is cowardice dressed up as procedure.
Nobody forced them to wait for legal permission before speaking up while that guide circulated on social media for hours.
https://twitter.com/TheMaineWonk/status/2107109791881671132?s=20
DeSantis didn't wait for permission.
Rick Scott didn't wait for permission.
They looked at what was in front of them and said what every decent person already knew – some things are simply not a party question.
A child was abused.
The man accused of doing it is still asking Palm Beach County voters to put him in office.
The only acceptable answer is no.
Sources:
- Kevin Haggerty, "Some things are bigger than party: DeSantis blasts GOP support for candidate facing child sex charges," The Western Journal, October 6, 2026.
- Sarah Rumpf, "DeSantis Calls Out County GOP for Continuing to Support Candidate Accused of Child Sexual Assault," Mediaite, October 5, 2026.
- "Former Republican lawmaker Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges," WGCU, August 18, 2026.
- "Suspended Palm Beach County Clerk extradited to Orange County jail after child sex abuse arrest," WPTV, August 2026.
- "What happens next? Deadline passes to replace Mike Caruso's name on November ballot," CBS12, August 2026.
- "Governor Ron DeSantis Suspends Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Mike Caruso," Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, August 18, 2026.
