In an exclusive interview on February 11, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman told RFE/RL that he is introducing legislation to expose and punish Iranian government officials involved in the crackdown on dissent since last year’s elections. Lieberman said he, Senator John McCain, and a “broad group” of Senators from both parties are introducing the bill. Lieberman and McCain announced the legislation at a press conference held on the same day that pro-democracy protesters were sprayed with tear gas and beaten by security forces during rallies marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Lieberman said the U.S. has a “principled responsibility...to speak loudly” when a country “is violating the rights of its people, as Iran is today.”