The Palm Beach County Republican Party of Florida on Monday endorsed Mike Caruso, who is running for clerk of the circuit court and comptroller, The Miami Herald reported.
Police arrested Caruso on August 18 on five felony charges of kidnapping, molestation, and child abuse connected to his alleged sexual abuse of a male relative under the age of five; Caruso has denied the charges and told the aforementioned publication that he intends to win the election.
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Investigators said that Caruso sexually molested the child, a male relative under the age of five, several times last year. Caruso allegedly exposed himself to the kid while playing soccer and then played “tickle monster” with him to touch his buttocks and genitals later that day. During a cruise, he allegedly put his penis in the child’s mouth after telling his parents that the two were going to get ice cream. He also reportedly fondled the boy’s penis during a fishing trip.
The boy subsequently acted out sexually at home, leading his parents to question him. The parents then contact the police, and also asked Caruso about the allegations; he reportedly denied them but begged them not to tell others under fear of arrest and jail time.
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At an August 28 court hearing, state prosecutors revealed that a female relative alleged that Caruso molested her when she was 4 years old. He was jailed and released on a $160,000 bail.
Caruso’s job as DeSantis’ appointee paid $219,000 a year and oversaw a staff of 670 with an annual budget of around $80 million. A few hours after his arrest, DeSantis issued an executive order suspending him from public office. If Caruso wins, DeSantis could suspend him again.
Caruso coached Little League baseball for 30 years and volunteered for the Boy Scouts for eight.
The Herald reports that past election results favor Democrats in Caruso’s area. His opponent is Democratic candidate Yvette Drucker, a former Boca Raton city council member.
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