Tracy Caruso has stepped down from her public board roles following the arrest of her husband, former Palm Beach County clerk Michael Caruso. Michael Caruso currently faces five felony charges involving child sexual abuse, allegations which he denies.
The 2022 and 2025 DeSantis appointments
Tracy Caruso's resignation includes high-profile roles she held via appointments from Governor Ron DeSantis. According to the repot ,she served on the board of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County starting in 2022 and was named vice chair of the Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees in 2025.
The Governor's office has stated that Ron DeSantis had no knowledge of any prior allegations when these appointments were made. tracy Caruso, who is a certified rape crisis counselor according to county records, stated that her departure is intended to prevent her husband's legal battles from distracting the boards she once served.
Five felony charges and the August 18 arrest
Michael Caruso was taken into custody on August 18, facing allegations of kidnapping, molestation, lewd exhibition, and luring. The report says these violent acts occurred between the fall of 2024 and August 2025, specifically during a family cruise, a fishing trip, and a Thanksgiving gathering at the Caruso residence.
Michael Caruso has pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance in Orlando and is currently held without bail in an Orange County jail. Because of the severity of the charges, the former legislator and clerk faces a legal battle that could potentially result in the death penalty.
The unfounded 2012 child abuse investigation
This current legal crisis follows a previous brush with the law over similar allegations.. In 2012, the Florida Department of Children and Families received an anonymous tip claiming Michael Caruso had molested a child for over a year.
However, that specific case was eventually cleared as unfounded. This was attributed to the fact that the alleged victim did not report the abuse and investigators found no corroborating witnesses to support the claims at that time.
Lisa Haba's claims and the 2026 therapy timeline
Lisa Haba of the Haba Law Firm, representing the alleged victim, argues that this case is part of a larger need to protect children and hold public officials accountable. While the report mentions the victim has received therapy since April 2026, this date creates a confusing timeline given the August 2025 arrest date.
Several critical details remain unverified or missing from the current reporting. It is not clear who the alleged victim is, and the source does not provide the exact nature of the "violent acts" beyond the listed felony charges. Additionally, the defense maintains that the charges are entirely fabricated.
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