ACLU urges Congress to 'restore freedoms'

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union Thursday called on the new 110th Congress to protect the U.S. Constitution and "restore basic freedoms."

The statement was issued the day the Democrats took over control of both houses of Congress following their victories in the Nov. 7 midterm elections. The election results ended a 12-year uninterrupted Republican control of the House of Representatives and four years of GOP control of the Senate.

The ACLU said it would be announcing its legislative agenda for the new Congress at a press conference next Tuesday. The group said Anthony D. Romero, its executive director, and Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington legislative office, would "discuss the need for increased oversight and better protections for civil liberties including restoring habeas corpus, ending torture of prisoners in American custody and illegal NSA spying."