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DeSantis Suspends Palm Beach Clerk Michael Caruso After Arrest

8/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

After Florida officials arrested Michael Caruso, Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller, on Aug. 18, 2026, on five felony child-abuse counts, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him via an order.
Prosecutors allege a boy under 12 was abused from 2024 through a cruise in Aug. 2025, including on a fishing trip and Thanksgiving.
Caruso will appear in Palm Beach County court Wednesday at 10 a.m., held without bail in the Orange County Jail.

History

Historical Context

In September 1994 President Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act, allocating $1.6 billion and creating the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women to coordinate prosecution and victim services. The act’s federal framework for holding officials accountable for abuse has been cited by states, and in 2026 Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Palm Beach Clerk Michael Caruso over child-abuse allegations, invoking VAWA-derived standards.

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Story summary

After Florida officials arrested Michael Caruso, Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller, on Aug. 18, 2026, on five felony child-abuse counts, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him via an order.
Prosecutors allege a boy under 12 was abused from 2024 through a cruise in Aug. 2025, including on a fishing trip and Thanksgiving.
Caruso will appear in Palm Beach County court Wednesday at 10 a.m., held without bail in the Orange County Jail.

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