White House embarrassment rises with donor scandal Andrew McLemore

Published: Saturday December 27, 2008





Print This Email This The White House faced yet another crisis Friday as a photo emerged of President Bush shaking hands with Robert Toussie, the father of the pardoned, and then unpardoned, housing scammer Isaac Toussie.



The photo was taken in early 2008, and it is unclear whether it was taken before or after the family contributed nearly $40,000 to the Republican National Committee.



Toussie had already become a monumental gaffe for the White House after President Bush pardoned him Tuesday, and then rescinded the pardon after reading about his political contributions the following day.



Both Toussies, father and son, face lawsuits that accuse them of robbing hundreds of minorities who bought overpriced houses.



Isaac Toussie pleaded guilty in 2001 to lying to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to get mortgages for unqualified homebuyers.



Rep. Anthony Weiner is deciding what to do with $9,900 in campaign cash from the Toussie family for his 2009 mayoral campaign.



It remains unclear why the Toussies gave Weiner (D-Brooklyn, Queens) such a large contribution.





