Bush Rescinds Pardon to NY Developer

Oh snap. Imagine two days before Christmas you get a pardon from the President of the United States. Then he takes it back the next day.

Ouch.

President George W. Bush took the very rare step Wednesday of revoking a pardon he had granted only a day before, after learning of political contributions to Republicans by the man's father and other information.

Bush pardoned 19 people on Tuesday, including Isaac Robert Toussie of Brooklyn, N.Y., who had been convicted of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and of mail fraud. On Wednesday, the White House issued an extraordinary statement saying the president was reversing his decision in Toussie's case.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the new decision was "based on information that has subsequently come to light," including on the extent and nature of Toussie's prior criminal offenses. She also said that neither the White House counsel's office nor the president had been aware of a political contribution by Toussie's father that "might create an appearance of impropriety."

"Given that, this was the prudent thing to do," she said.

I'm not sure pardoning this scam artist was a good idea to begin with.

Michelle Malkin links. Thanks!