this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2026
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politics

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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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[–] scathliath@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 day ago

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

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 11 points 1 day ago

Indulge him.

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

be a good one for that penalty

[–] FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

Give him what he wants!

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 73 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 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.

[–] benjirenji@slrpnk.net 17 points 2 days ago (13 children)

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

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[–] TheKingBombOmbKiller@lemmy.zip 18 points 2 days ago (1 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.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (2 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.

[–] chewypoops@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago

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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[–] Pollo_Jack@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago
[–] TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com 7 points 1 day ago

holy shit....

[–] QueenHawlSera@piefed.social 89 points 2 days ago

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

[–] minorkeys@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 day ago

Me thinks the righty doth protest too much.

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago

Projection is assumed these days.

Its always the ones you most suspect.

I mean, it's not, otherwise it would be much easier to keep kids safe. But I get what you mean - Republican legislator, vociferously anti-CSA, probably performatively Christian and 'pro-family values' (Meaning discriminates against anything that isn't a straight white CIS family) - you wouldn't want one of those fuckers living within a mile of a school, that's for sure.

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 68 points 2 days ago (4 children)

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

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He called for death penalty for sexual abuse of children under 12. Weird that he picked that age, specifically...

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[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

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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[–] Perky@fedia.io 117 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The rare case of a leopard eating its own face.

[–] sik0fewl@piefed.ca 14 points 2 days ago

Hoisted by his own petard.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago

Only if he gets the death penalty.

[–] breezeblock@lemmy.ca 72 points 2 days ago

It’s what he would have wanted…

[–] WanderWisley@lemmy.world 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It’s always the ones who you suspect.

[–] arin@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and not the ones they tell you to fear

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[–] brownsugga@lemmy.world 52 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 20 points 2 days ago

I saw the list on Reddit, pages. Endless pages.

[–] Naive@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Uno card reverse

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nope. I disagree.

Life in gen pop prison.

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[–] RichardNixos@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago (3 children)

It's almost as if wishing death on people is some sort of red flag...

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[–] kesslerpartyatmyplace@anarchist.nexus 24 points 2 days 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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[–] BillyClark@piefed.social 22 points 2 days 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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[–] Dionysus@leminal.space 26 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Say it with me...

"Every accusation is a..."

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[–] SPRUNTnsfw@fedinsfw.app 19 points 2 days ago

It's ALWAYS projection

[–] oyzmo@piefed.social 19 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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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