| Jamie Dupree |
Someone at the Justice Department had a busy Christmas Eve, and was probably having a big drink after the White House had to do an about face on a grant of clemency issued by President Bush this week.
Evidently a lot of people were not pleased with the decision, as you can quickly see by Googling the name of Isaac Toussie.
Here is the White House release:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 24, 2008
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Yesterday the President forwarded to the Pardon Attorney a Master Warrant of Clemency including 19 requests for pardons with direction that he execute and deliver grants of clemency to the named individuals.
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.
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. 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.
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What others are saying
- Oops indeedThat definitely would not have looked good for the Republicans who wanted to draw attention to Obama's pick of Eric Holder for attorney general and Holder's role for the Marc Rich pardon. Bush having his own Marc Rich pardon at the end of his term might have sparked a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Although the difference here between the two would've been, "oops, Bush just didn't 'know' what he knows now." But since the pardoned has now been un-pardoned, well, crisis averted for Bush and the finger-pointing Republicans.
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