Full Breakdown
Tracy Caruso Resigns from Public Boards Amid Husband’s Child-Sex Abuse Charges
8/25/2026, 4:25:42 AM
Core Event
- On August 24, Tracy Caruso resigned from the Health Care District of Palm Beach County Board and as vice chair of the Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees. She said she would devote her time to supporting her husband, former Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso.
- Michael Caruso was arrested on August 18 on five felony child-sex-abuse counts: kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. He is being held without bond in an Orange County jail.
Background & Context
- Michael Caruso, 67, is a former Republican state legislator who was elected Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller in 2020 and appointed to the clerk position by Governor Ron DeSantis in August 2025. DeSantis suspended him immediately after the arrest.
- Earlier investigations in 2012 and 2013 examined allegations that Caruso had molested a child; both were closed as “unfounded.” The current charges relate to alleged abuse of a family-member child that prosecutors say occurred from fall 2024 through August 2025, including incidents on a cruise, fishing trips, and a Thanksgiving gathering.
Data & Statistics
- Five felony counts are pending against Michael Caruso.
- The alleged victim is a boy under 12 who is a relative of Caruso.
- The case is being prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution; a grand jury indictment could make the charges eligible for the death penalty under Florida law.
Official Statements & Responses
- Governor Ron DeSantis said he was unaware of any allegations before Caruso’s appointment and called the accusations “truly horrific.” He referenced Florida’s law allowing the death penalty for certain child-sexual-battery convictions, a law Caruso backed in 2023. DeSantis also noted that Caruso was “highly recommended” for the clerk position.
- Tracy Caruso issued a statement asserting her belief in her husband’s innocence, describing the accusations as false, and emphasizing the presumption of innocence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you have these very young kids that get abused, overwhelmingly it is by a family member,” — Ron DeSantis, governor
- “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,” — Lisa Haba
- “I know my husband. I love Mike, I believe him, and I believe in his innocence,” — Tracy Caruso
- “Allegations are not convictions, and accusations are not proof.” — Tracy Caruso
Criticism & Opposition
- The sources do not contain substantive, named criticism of the Carusos beyond the prosecutor’s motion indicating the possibility of the death penalty, which is already reflected in official statements.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Earlier investigations (2012, 2013) were closed as “unfounded,” whereas the current 2024-2025 allegations have resulted in felony charges. Sources differ on the status of those earlier claims, but no definitive resolution is provided.
- The identity of the alleged victim and the full details of the alleged incidents are limited to police affidavits; no trial evidence has been presented.
What’s Next
- Michael Caruso is scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing on August 25. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.
