The National Security Agency’s collection of bulk telephone records is illegal, should be shut down and, moreover, has had “minimal” counterterrorism benefits, according to a report on Thursday by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. “This report underscores that the collection of records on virtually every phone call made in the United States is an unconstitutional violation of the privacy rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said. The president's recommendations last week did not go far enough to rein in the out-of-control National Security Agency‎. Congress must pass strong legislation to protect the privacy and civil liberties of the American people.”

Sanders will host a town meeting Feb. 1 in Montpelier, Vt., on privacy and violations of constitutional rights by the National Security Agency. Two of the nation’s preeminent authorities on civil liberties – Professor David Cole of Georgetown Law School and Heidi Boghosian, executive director of the National Lawyers Guild – will speak on government surveillance and corporate attacks on privacy rights.