The local Palm Beach County Republican Party has flat-out refused to distance itself from a child molester who has refused to remove himself from the impending election.
Palm Beach County's Mike Caruso -- who was hand-picked and appointed as Clerk of Courts by right-wing extremist Governor Ron DeSantis himself -- was suspended back in August after he was arrested on charges related to the molestation of an underage family member.
Despite that, Caruso has vehemently refused to drop out of the race to maintain his position, insisting that he still intends to win his election next month, and, though the Florida GOP has refused to support him following his arrest, the local Palm Beach County Republican Party refuses to distance itself from the accused child molester.
Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Carl Cascio spoke with the Miami Herald and stated that the Republican Party "has the power and duty" under Florida state law and local party rules "to conduct campaigns for party nominees."
According to a letter Cascio posted to the county party's official website, the Florida Republican Party "publicly stated it would not support Mr. Caruso's reelection if he remained in the race." Meanwhile, the local party refuses to comment against Caruso and instead asserts that he is "currently Palm Beach County's only Republican constitutional officer" and is fighting "to clear his name."
Cascio further wrote that the state GOP directed him to choose a candidate to replace Caruso following his arrest, confirming that he stayed in close contact with DeSantis' office, and stated that county election supervisors even went so far as to delay the printing of ballots in an effort to give Republicans as much time as possible to install a new candidate. But in the end, Caruso refused to withdraw.
In a statement released through his spokesperson, Caruso stated: "I maintain my innocence and remain a candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. My name is on the November ballot, and I intend to win this election."
Caruso was arrested on August 18, exactly one year after Governor DeSantis appointed him to the position, and DeSantis immediately suspended him when news of the arrest broke.
Caruso pleaded not guilty to charges that include lewd or lascivious molestation, kidnapping, child abuse, and luring or enticing a child -- stemming from horrific, stomach-churning allegations made against him by a male relative who was under the age of 5 at the time of the alleged sexual assaults.
At an August 28 hearing, a separate individual, a woman, alleged that Caruso molested her at the age of 4.
An Orange County judge released Caruso on $160,000 bail, saying the case was weak and possibly unproven -- a characterization prosecutors rejected.
His campaign website has been taken down in the weeks since his arrest, and he has issued refunds to two donors and a data vendor. Campaign finance records show that Caruso has continued to pay his eldest son for "outreach" and has conducted two campaign meetings in mid-September at local restaurants.
Palm Beach County has historically leaned blue, and Caruso is slated to face Democratic opponent Yvette Drucker. If he wins his election next month, Governor DeSantis could turn around and immediately suspend him again.
