May 18, 1962 - The conviction a year ago of Pete Seeger, folk singer, was unanimously reversed today by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The indictment was ordered dismissed. Mr. Seeger, who was sentenced to 1 year in prison, has been free on $2,000 bail pending appeal. The 43-year-old folk singer was charged with having refused to answer questions on Communist infiltration in the field of entertainment during a hearing in 1955 before a subcommittee of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In reversing the conviction, the court held that the indictment was defective because it failed to define properly the authority of the subcommittee to conduct the hearings. The Government may pursue the case in two ways, if it desires. It can appeal the reversal to the U.S. Supreme Court, or it can draw a new indictment within a year.
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