Mr. Wheeler. I would like to refer to a document entitled “Investigation of Communist Activities in the Pacific Northwest, Part 3,” page 6173. It is the testimony of Barbara Hartle in June 1954. She is identifying members of the Communist Party, and I quote the following:
Jack Bitterman, then husband of Ruth Bitterman, was a member of this section in the machinists’ branch, and was for a time chairman of that branch.
Do you wish to make any comment on that testimony?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Bitterman. I invoke the fifth amendment, on the same grounds previously stated.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Wheeler is not asking you to confirm or deny it, but asked merely if you wanted to make some comment on it. Why do you take the fifth amendment on that question?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Bitterman. I decline to answer that question on the same grounds.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you chairman of the machinists’ branch of the Communist Party?
Mr. Bitterman. I decline to answer that question on the same grounds previously stated.