Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso, a former Republican state legislator who previously backed the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually battering children under 12, was arrested Tuesday on five felony child sex abuse charges.

The 67-year-old married father of seven, who was appointed by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, faces five felony counts: kidnapping, child molestation, lewd exhibition, luring or enticing a child and child abuse causing mental injury, an arrest affidavit shows.

Investigators in Florida say Caruso violated a child—who is a relative—and allege the abuse occurred multiple times from fall 2024 to August 2025, including on a family cruise, a fishing outing and during a Thanksgiving gathering. The child has been receiving therapeutic services since April 2026, according to the police affidavit.

Its always the ones you most suspect.

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[–] 115 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The rare case of a leopard eating its own face.

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  • [–] 91 points 2 months ago

    I notice he still isn't a trans person or a drag queen.

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  • [–] 74 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (27 children)

    Dude has an iron-clad defense, though. Said it's only abuse if the child is the same sex and he likes women/girls. I really wish I were making that up.

    Edit: wow, I actually totally misunderstood his absurd defense. He actually said "sexual deviancy is directed towards one sex rather than two" and since he's attracted to women (when the victim here was a boy) he can't possibly be a sex offender. I think we've finally found something so far gone that even MAGAts can't support it.

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  • [–] 18 points 2 months ago (7 children)

    Not that I don't believe you, but do you have a source for that? It's so outrageous I need to see it myself.

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  • [–] 25 points 2 months ago (6 children)
  • [–] 16 points 2 months ago (4 children)

    🤢 That is one of the most disgusting claims I've seen. I'm normally against the death penalty but scum like this makes me question my stance.

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  • [–] 19 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    I mean, he himself called for people like him to face the death penalty. I am anti death penalty, but I am also in favor of medically assisted suicide for those who fully consent, so if he's opting-in I say let's do it.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    @chewypoops @TrickDacy Emasculation.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    Pedophiles are one far extreme of the pervert spectrum, but people like you who fantasize about sexually mutilating pedophiles are just another far extreme on that spectrum. Discuss these dark thoughts with your therapist instead of airing out your sick fantasies in public.

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  • [–] 17 points 2 months ago (16 children)

    Not only a pedophile but also a sexist. But somehow that makes it better in Republican eyes.

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  • [+] -30 points 2 months ago (15 children)

    What else can we expect? if you have read The Handmaid's Tale, the authorities there were the most corrupt. Republicans and far right folks want to make USA what it was in The Handmaid's Tale. Wokes too are so bending towards the Islamists that they too will end up making USA a sharia state.

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  • [–] 25 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    I never see leftists embrace Sharia-like rules or laws. The only 'fuzzy' thing is headscarves that seem to be understood as both an expression of religion and an instrument of oppression. Besides this contradictory feature I don't see any move towards Islamic rule.

    Do you?

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  • [–] 16 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    I was with you until that last sentence.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

    wokes too are so bending towards the Islamists that they too will end up making USA a sharia state.

    wow, it's not enough that one party is literally CHOCK FULLA PEDOS, no it's gotta be both somehow, even though the evidence CLEARLY POINTS IN ONE DIRECTION.

    https://goppredator.com/

    https://www.dscc.org/article/icymi-unreal-number-of-sex-scandal-republican-candidates-exposed-daily-beast/

    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/from-hastert-to-gaetz-lets-talk-about-republicans-and-sex-crimes.html

    show me the evidence for the left pushing sharia law. show me, or admit you're fucking wrong.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    Wait - you're trying to say that the left is actually hard right? Because Sharia is pretty undeniably very conservative. Actually, The Handmaid's Tale fits much more closely with what republicans want. I think maybe you're a bit confused mate.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    maybe I am cuz everything is so confusing and like from what I heard from right wing is that the left deliberately hid the grooming gang cases to appease Islamists and like in UK, it is left that allowed ikhwanis in the British universities. They hate west.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    It's a safe bet that anything you heard from the right is bullshit or warmed-over hasbara.

    I live in the UK. The police used woke as an excuse for their own incompetence in investigating the grooming gangs.

    I know a lot of British Muslims. None are Ikhwaan.

    The only people burning down other people's homes over here are white rightwingers.

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  • [–] 71 points 2 months ago

    It’s what he would have wanted…

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  • [–] 67 points 2 months ago (6 children)

    I’m against the death penalty except for people who advocate it’s use in punishing crimes they are guilty of.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 child)

    I'm against it being used against the working class.

    However billionares/politicians that use their power to undermine justice, subvert democracy, and avoid punishment for their own crimes, cannot be reformed and need to be made an example of.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago

    I'm absolutely against it until we have a 100% reliable method of proving guilt. There are definitely some people who shouldn't be breathing air, but I don't trust the legal system to apply this penalty fairly and correctly in every case. Also, if we absolutely knew someone was guilty there's no need for such a prolonged appeals process - take em down to the courthouse basement and bolt gun their head like a farm animal.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Damn, the death penalty for hypocrisy is intense.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago*

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_bull

    After finishing construction on the execution device, Perilaus said to Phalaris: "His screams will come to you through the pipes as the tenderest, most pathetic, most melodious of bellowings." Perilaus believed he would receive a reward for his invention. Instead, Phalaris, who was disgusted by these words, ordered its horn sound system to be tested by Perilaus himself, tricking him into getting in the bull. When Perilaus entered, he was immediately locked in and the fire was set, so that Phalaris could hear the sound of Perilaus' screams. Before Perilaus could die, Phalaris ordered him removed from the bull. After freeing him from the bull, Phalaris is then said to have had Perilaus thrown to his death from atop a high cliff.

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  • [–] 51 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Someone once posted a heroic comment, they broke down all politicians by party who had been convicted of sex crimes with children .... it was pretty one sided

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  • [–] 34 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    It’s always the ones who you suspect.

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  • [–] 28 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Nope. I disagree.

    Life in gen pop prison.

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  • [–] 25 points 2 months ago (4 children)

    Say it with me...

    "Every accusation is a..."

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  • [–] 22 points 2 months ago (6 children)

    So I'm not for killing every pedophile, but I think killing this one would be too funny. I'll never forgive us if we don't.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Killing them puts their victims in danger. If they know they are going to die for the crime, they'll kill the child to keep the secret.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Thing is, cons want to label queer people as pedos for existing in public, and then execute them under those laws (its in project 2025) which is why he's pushing that law. With selective enforcement; cons get to marry their victims.

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  • [–] 22 points 2 months ago

    Projection is assumed these days.

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  • [–] 22 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)
    [–] 20 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    I am against the death penalty, but people like this make me want to make special exceptions. Like, only people who publicly call for death sentences for certain crimes, and then go on to commit those crimes. But if I went that far, then I might say that only people who support the death penalty shall be eligible for the death penalty. It's a slippery slope, really. So, I just have to go back to opposing the death penalty, generally.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago

    A common misbelief about anarchism is that it opposes rules. It doesn't oppose rules though, but rulers. Those who wish to make rules for others.

    If this were an anarchist world, which it should be, it would be perfectly fine to create rules for yourself and consensually with others.

    Therefore, if he, and the others supporting the death penalty for this crime, choose to apply that standard to themselves then they should face the death penalty. That doesn't mean that punishment therefore applies to everybody else though.

    Your logic is fine, no slippery slope.

    On a less related note, here's my favourite video debunking the efficacy of the death penalty: https://youtu.be/_DrsVhzbLzU

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  • [–] 18 points 2 months ago* (1 child)

    I though child sex was one of the boxes you had to tick in order to be a up-and-coming Republican 😅 and with Epstein's timeshare shutdown, you have to go rogue to get your badge. .... not serious btw, I'm sure the higher ups already have created a new little tiny sex vacation spot somewhere.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago

    Of course it is. That's how people will vote to confirm terrible people for important government positions with tears rolling down their cheeks. They know if they don't all the evidence of only their crimes against children in the clubhouse will become front page news.

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  • [–] 18 points 2 months ago

    It's ALWAYS projection

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  • [–] 18 points 2 months ago

    Me thinks the righty doth protest too much.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 months ago

    Complicated method of suicide, but given the circumstances I will allow it.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 months ago

    Fork found in kitchen.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    The 67-year-old married father of seven

    Oh... he's just a family man, don't you all see? He's a married father of seven! Maybe he did horrible things to a child (or more than one) but which married father hasn't ever molested repeatedly a minor? Which married father hasn't ever kidnapped a kid? We're all here virtue signaling him when he's just the average (republican) married father... have a little shame you all!

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  • [–] 11 points 2 months ago

    Indulge him.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago

    Suicide the long game?

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  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago

    Give him what he wants!

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  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago

    Sentencing should be easy, at least.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago

    Uno card reverse

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    I'd love to see data on all the child sex offenders who've been found guilty over the last 50 years and learn whether they're politically liberal or conservative and what types of jobs they've held. I have a hypothesis and I want to see if the data supports or refutes it.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago

    There's a pretty famous list that would get republished every time one of these stories hit the news. IIRC, it was Republican politicians convicted of child abuse crimes. But I can't seem to find it anywhere right now.

    There's a similar list of Democrats. It's about half the size of the other one.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago

    be a good one for that penalty

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago

    Always the ones you most expect.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago

    Color me surprised /s

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Does anyone really think any Republican will face justice?

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    Oh yeah. The next crop of Democrats isn't going to be like the last bunch. They aren't busting down the doors with our votes so they can serve Israel and let MAGA get away with their crimes. They'll be pissed off, and ready to fight anyone who stands in their way, from any party.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago

    He would be best placed to explain his rationale to fellow inmates on death row.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Is Demented Don able pardon him?

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago

    I suppose he is one small step up from the pedophiles that work to change the laws so that pedophilia is legal in some states...

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago

    I mean, yeah, firing squad seems appropriate.

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