Bush Withdraws Presidential Pardon For New York Real Estate Developer

December 25, 2008 2:19 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday withdrew a pardon he granted for a real estate developer convicted of fraud after reports that the developer's family had given $40,000 in campaign contributions this year to the Republican Party and its candidates, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

The pardon for 37-year-old Isaac Toussie, who was sentenced in 2003 to five months in prison and five months of home detention, only lasted a day. The president granted pardons for 19 people on Tuesday, but then revoked Toussie's hours before Christmas Eve.

Toussie had pleaded guilty in 2001 to falsifying documents to have mortgages insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 2002 for selling land to Suffolk County at inflated prices.

His family donated a total of $40,000 to Republicans this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His father, Robert Toussie, donated $28,500, the maximum legal amount, to the Republican National Committee on April 25. Five days later, Robert gave $2,300 to the McCain campaign. On October 15, Robert made $2,300 donations each to the re-election campaigns of Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Gordon Smith (R-OR). The same day, Toussie's mother Laura also made $2,300 contributions to the same two senators.

The contributions were reported widely after Bush issued his pardon for Toussie.

In its statement late Wednesday afternoon, the White House did not cite the contributions, saying only that new information had led Bush to have Toussie's pardon re-examined.

"With respect to the case of Mr. Isaac R. Toussie, the Counsel to the President reviewed the application and believed, based on the information known to him at the time, that it was a meritorious application. He so advised the President, who accepted the recommendation," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in the statement.

"Based on information that has subsequently come to light, the President has directed the Pardon Attorney not to execute and deliver a Grant of Clemency to Mr. Toussie," she added. "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."