Obama Lawyer: Pro-Clinton Group Violating Law

Feb. 21, 2008— -- Sen. Barack Obama's lawyer argued today that American Leadership Project, a 527 group producing pro-Clinton issue ads, is breaking the law and warned that those involved with the group could face criminal as well as civil liability.

The group's ads are set to launch by Monday in Ohio and Texas, two states whose primaries on March 4 could determine the fate of Sen. Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

"This is not a case where there's shades of gray. This is not a case where there is room for argument. This is not a case where they will be spared by some version of Philadelphia lawyering," Obama lawyer Bob Bauer said during a conference call with reporters.

"This is absolutely a cold, calculated move to violate the law to the benefit of the candidate and to assume that any penalty will be so deferred into the future that the immediate benefits can be taken now without consequence."

"The calculation on their part is that the penalties will be bearable for them," he added. "But I think in the end, the penalties will be unbearable for them. This is going to wind up being a very, very miserable experience for the people involved. Maybe, in some cases, life changing."

Bauer argued that A.L.P.'s activity is "so brazen" that it raises "very serious questions about knowing and willful misconduct."

"It was established only now, has no prior operating history, and press accounts make it very clear that it responded to the financial difficulties announced by the Clinton campaign to provide resources the Clinton campaign could not provide for itself on the air in two primary election states," Bauer said. "The advertisement makes a very clear reference to Clinton's opposition candidate, but even more explicitly airs material that is meant to be highly supportive of Sen. Clinton."

You can preview the group's Ohio ad HERE.

"At the end of the day, there will be a reckoning here," he added, "and I think it will be rough on the officers. It's going to be rough on the employees. It is going to be rough on the donors. But I think there certainly is going to be a reckoning here."