U.S. Rep. Holt discusses NSA spying, Ebola quarantine at ACLU forum in Princeton

PRINCETON With little more than two months before he closes the book on a 16-year Congressional career, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.) discussed the challenges in store when it comes to preserving civil liberties in the 21st century.

Before a crowd of nearly 100 ACLU members, Holt and ACLU of New Jersey Executive Director Udi Ofer traced a history of the revocation of civil liberties throughout Holts time in the House.

Holt, who announced earlier this year that he wouldnt seek a ninth term in Congress, didnt pull any punches, openly criticizing his affirmative votes on the Patriot Act in 2001 -- hands down the worst vote Ive cast so far in Congress, he said -- and the Authorization for Use of Military Force in 2003 a close second.

We shouldnt sacrifice our liberties for the sake of security. Thats a false choice, Holt said. Its not the loss of privacy that is so upsetting. It is that the government would treat all of us as suspects first and citizens second.

Since those votes, Holt has remained critical of the use of surveillance at the federal level, frequently calling the situation a surveillance state during Mondays discussion.

He detailed his own experience with the NSA when, as chairman of the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, NSA leaders unquestionably and unequivocally lied to him when he asked about surveillance.

There is some reason for secrecy but theres no justification for systematically and deliberately lying to people charged with the oversight, said Holt, a Hopewell Township resident.

And while he acknowledged that Edward Snowden unquestionably broke a significant law by leaking evidence of the NSAs domestic surveillance, he said Snowden should have leniency in any prosecution and probably should be pardoned."

He has done a great service. The more I hear him interviewed, theres a little bit of self-righteousness there, but this was done for patriotic reasons, Holt said. He did not do this casually or stupidly. It was quite thoughtful."

Turning to current events, Holt criticized Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos policy of mandatory quarantines for medical workers returning from trips to treat Ebola patients in West Africa.

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U.S. Rep. Holt discusses NSA spying, Ebola quarantine at ACLU forum in Princeton