U.S. President George W. Bush took the rare step Wednesday of revoking a pardon he had granted only a day before.
Bush pardoned 19 people on Tuesday, including Isaac Robert Toussie of Brooklyn, N.Y., who had been convicted of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and of mail fraud.
On Wednesday, the White House issued an extraordinary statement saying the president was reversing his decision in Toussie's case.
It's a Christmas miracle! Who knew Article II included the power to unpardon the pardoned? Look out Scooter Libby and while we're at it, Richard Nixon and the Iran/Contra crew, the unpardons are on their way.
Update: Raj and Mithras Invicti take issue with this in comments. The case for Bush's power to do this hinges on whether you consider the real pardon to have been granted or just announced (if you see a distinction in this). No surprise, despite Perino's unawareness of any precedents, they exist. See some interesting background here.
I still think this is concerning, considering the President had signed a "master warrant" which could be argued to be the actual act of pardoning. Focusing on the delivery of a piece of paper seems pedantic. Josh also thinks this smells and lists other precedents worth considering.
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