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Bush Rescinds Pardon
Bush giveth, and Bush taketh away. In an unprecedented move the president yanked his pardon of Isaac Toussie, a Brooklyn real estate developer who ran a scam that cost the government $6 million in defaulted loans. Perhaps more damning, reports the NY Post, was the fact that his father, Robert Toussie, had given the legal maximum of $28,500 to the Republican National Committee this year. White House press secretary Dana Perino said that the discovery of new information about the extent of Toussie's crimes and the appearance of impropriety created by his father's donations led the administration to believe rescinding the pardon was "the prudent thing to do". Normally pardons only apply to people who have waited five years since their conviction or release. But Toussie's pardon was fast-tracked past the Justice Department straight to the White House. The case has now been returned to Ronald Rogers, the Justice Department's official pardon attorney.
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Can anyone explain how a pardon, once granted, can be rescinded? Once a person is freed, isn't a Bush change of mind the same as Bush being able to single-handedly be able to put anyone in prison on a whim? This whole things stinks of an autocracy.
Hard to use the phrase "normally pardons" as the NYPost does here. Fact is Prez can pardon anyone for anything for any reason at any time. Some pardons go through Justice, which vets them, but only if they meet the five year rule. This one didn't, so Justice didn't review it. Other pardons are done directly by WH. Generally there isn't a public distinction made between those with DoJ review and those without, tho one can surmise by checking the calendar.
More interesting question is why in current circumstances, Bush would pardon someone involves in a realty scam, but find political contribution a disqualifying act-- having never previously acknowledged the existence of any such rule.
Thank you.
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