Mr. Moulder. I wish to say that for as long as I have served on this committee, a period of approximately 7 years, I have never heard anyone invoke the fifth amendment in response to a question as to whether or not he was a member of an A. F. of L. union.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. Proceed.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you acquainted or have you been acquainted in the past with Mrs. Barbara Hartle.
Mr. Robel. For the same reasons as previously given, that I might tend to incriminate myself, I will have to invoke the fifth amendment and refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Wheeler. Quoting her testimony before this committee, appearing on page 6094 of volume 2 of the hearings held in June 1954:
The Communist Party has always had a number of members in the machinists Union. Some of them that I can remember are Glenn Kinney, Ray Campbell, Frank Kerr, Gene Robel.
Was Mrs. Hartle advising the committee of the truth when she testified to that?
Mr. Robel. I must again invoke the fifth amendment for the previously stated reasons, and not admit or deny anything that any stool pigeon you may bring out says about me.
Mr. Moulder. To whom do you refer as a stool pigeon?