What happened: The Palm Beach County Republican Party has removed Mike Caruso from its voter guide after his inclusion sparked criticism from Republican leaders at the local and state levels.
Background: An updated voter guide posted by the county GOP no longer lists a candidate for Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Caruso, the Republican nominee for the office, had appeared on an earlier version of the guide.
The Palm Beach GOP said on social media that the original guide listed every Republican nominee because it was required to do so under Florida law. “As soon as we were permitted to remove the nominee running for a constitutional office, we did,” the party wrote.
Caruso remains the Republican nominee on the November ballot. His campaign previously told News there had been no change in his status as a candidate and that he does not intend to actively campaign.
The controversy comes after Caruso was taken into custody in August on five felony charges, including kidnapping and lewd or lascivious molestation of a chld. He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
State Republican leaders respond The voter guide drew criticism from some of Florida's highest-profile Republican leaders.
The available details are limited to the information verified at publication time. Readers should expect updates as the matter develops.
Any person identified in connection with an alleged offense is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Source: official sources including CBS12 News.
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