Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has suspended a former close ally and senior civic official who was arrested on felony child sexual abuse charges.
Michael Caruso, who was removed as clerk of court and comptroller for Palm Beach county on Tuesday, was a vocal supporter of a law signed by DeSantis in 2023 that allowed the death penalty for anybody convicted of the sexual battery of a child under 12.
The governor previously called Caruso “a legend” for his support of hardline legislation while he was a Republican state representative from 2018 until last year.
Caruso, 67, a married father of seven children,
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