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| Bush revokes developer's pardon | Bush revokes developer's pardon |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has taken the unusual step of reversing a pardon he had announced only a day earlier of a New York property developer. | US President George W Bush has taken the unusual step of reversing a pardon he had announced only a day earlier of a New York property developer. |
| Isaac Robert Toussie, convicted of making false statements to a government department and mail fraud, was one of 19 people Mr Bush pardoned on Tuesday. | Isaac Robert Toussie, convicted of making false statements to a government department and mail fraud, was one of 19 people Mr Bush pardoned on Tuesday. |
| But the next day, the White House said the president was reviewing the move in light of new information on Toussie. | But the next day, the White House said the president was reviewing the move in light of new information on Toussie. |
| This included details of his crimes and political donations made by his father. | This included details of his crimes and political donations made by his father. |
| White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the decision to revoke the pardon was "based on information that has subsequently come to light" on the extent and nature of his offences. | White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the decision to revoke the pardon was "based on information that has subsequently come to light" on the extent and nature of his offences. |
| 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". | 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". |
| Once that became known, rescinding the pardon was the "prudent thing to do", she added. | Once that became known, rescinding the pardon was the "prudent thing to do", she added. |
| Mr Bush's move followed a report in the New York Daily News that Toussie's father, Robert Toussie, had donated $28,500 to the Republican National Committee in April. | Mr Bush's move followed a report in the New York Daily News that Toussie's father, Robert Toussie, had donated $28,500 to the Republican National Committee in April. |
| New York media also published reports that Toussie had been taken to court accused of deceiving poor, minority homebuyers and selling low-quality homes at inflated prices with hidden extra costs. | New York media also published reports that Toussie had been taken to court accused of deceiving poor, minority homebuyers and selling low-quality homes at inflated prices with hidden extra costs. |
| Toussie pleaded guilty in 2001 to charges of mail fraud and making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. | Toussie pleaded guilty in 2001 to charges of mail fraud and making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. |
| He was sentenced in 2003 to five months in prison, five months home detention and three years supervised release, court papers show. | He was sentenced in 2003 to five months in prison, five months home detention and three years supervised release, court papers show. |
| Mr Bush has granted far fewer pardons than did Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan during their terms in office. |