Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suggested that Michael Caruso, a former ally he appointed as Palm Beach County clerk of court, could face the death penalty if convicted of child sex abuse charges. Speaking to reporters, DeSantis said Caruso could be in for a "world of hurt" if found guilty, highlighting the political awkwardness of a serious criminal case involving someone he personally placed in office.

Caruso, 67, was arrested and has been suspended from his clerk duties amid allegations that he preyed on a young victim. Florida law, passed in 2023, allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for adults convicted of capital sexual battery against a child under 12, though legal experts have questioned whether such a sentence would withstand judicial scrutiny.