(CNN) – President George W. Bush on Wednesday ordered one of 19 presidential pardons announced earlier in the week to be re-examined before a final decision on clemency is made.
The pardon was to go to Isaac R. Toussie, 36, who had been convicted of mail fraud and issuing false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to a senior administration official, the White House learned new information about Toussie's case Tuesday night - only hours after announcing his pardon.
Specifically, the White House learned, according to the official, "additional information about the nature of fraud (Toussie) carried out." The White House also learned that Toussie's father had made numerous contributions to leading Republican politicians.
In 2008, Toussie's father donated almost $40,000 to Arizona Sen. John McCain, Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, and Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor.
"Based on information that has subsequently come to light, the president has directed the (Justice Department's) pardon attorney not to execute and deliver a grant of clemency to Mr. Toussie," White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a written statement.
"The pardon attorney has not provided a recommendation on Mr. Toussie's case because it was filed less than five years from completion of his sentence. The president believes that the pardon attorney should have an opportunity to review this case before a decision on clemency is made."
Under Justice Department guidelines, an application for a presidential pardon will not be considered by the department's pardon attorney until a convict has been out of prison for five years.
Toussie was sentenced in September 2003 to a five-month prison sentence, as well as three years of supervised release.
CNN's attempts to reach Toussie's lawyers have been unsuccessful.
Full story
(updated 5:15 p.m. with additional information)
From CNN Politics
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Caught in the act – AGAIN!
What about border guards in jail for apprenhending a drug dealer.???
Why would anyone care about this?
Ho... yea. Just in case nobody was looking.
One last kick in the nuts to the American people by the Bush administration, the pardon list is sure to make Clinton's tame by comparison
Oh my gosh.......sounds like Quid Pro Quo to me........Blago doesn't look as bad now.
It's just not about the $28,500 donated to the RNC, how does the President pardon a person that has contribute to the Housing Crisis? Just don't make sense.
A criminal freeing criminals..whats wrong with this picture!!!
and vasoline up, because Bush has one last round to give to you before iits off to his Texas ranch for a three beer buzz everyday so he can unload his double barrel shot gun into broken tractors
i , personally dont care for someone in high office if they mess up big time,, they should have to pay the price like everyone else,,,, who and what makes them specail????? the republicans have had they "day" and didnt show anything productive,, the economy is awlful,, lay-offs are plentyfull even after the car companys got some bucks,, they stilllaid off people,,,,(bet the higher ups got their share),, how is anyone in america soppose to believe what bush says after his major mess-ups witht he wars, etc????? im glad hes out soon,, and we have a new beginning,,, it will take a long time to fix things ,, but NOW we have the right person in there to do that job,,,, go obama go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should you not have been fully informed on the circumstances before issuing a pardon?? Still reading "My Pet Goat," I suppose.
Soooo par for the course........
So essentially, Bush made a hasty and uninformed decision.
At least this time he is able to own up to it. Improvement... and to think it only took 8 years.
Wonders never cease....
So his father was a donor to the GOP. What a surprise.
Why does this "new information" becoming available after the decision to Pardon is announced sound familiar? Once again the Bush administration is right on top of all the facts just like Iraq WMD's, Global Warming, the economy and so many other important issues.
January 20th can't come soon enough as this proves he can continue to screw things up for 26 more days.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CONDUCT OF GEORGE W BUSH. NO COMMON SENSE , NO INTELLIGENCE, NO CREDITABILITY. THIS GUY IS AN UNFIT HUMAN BEING. WHY IS HE EVEN ALLOWED TO PARDON PEOPLE. WHO WILL PARDON HIM?
Another practice that should go by the way side. There should not be any whole sale use of pardons by any administration.
Where's the clemency for Ramos and Compean, the two border guards who were railroaded while the Justice dept sided with an illegal drug smuggler?
This is another example why George parents should have never been allowed to have children.
It is remarkable that this administration still hasn't learned that the "shoot first, then ask questions" method makes them look incompetent. Regardless, have a Merry Christmas everyone.
Honestly, this Administration couldn't tie its shoes without having to do it over at least two times. Just days to go, thankfully.
Does this mean when he pardons Rove, Cheney, and himself, that the Dept. of justice can revisit those pardons and rescind them? Pretty please?
can this man do anything right at all?..anything?
Leave it to the moron we call President Bush, to pardon a criminal, then ask what the guy did to be convicted. If you wonder why, and how our nation is in the position it is in today, all you have to do is look inside the White House. The failed abortions named Bush, Cheney, and the one who was flushed, Rumsfeld.
Pardon the border patrolmen!!