What action did the communist party take regarding individuals who were subpoenaed?

The action taken by the communist party in response to individuals who were subpoenaed was to disavow any connection with them. This was particularly evident during the era of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, when many individuals associated with communism were called to testify. The Communist Party aimed to distance itself from those who were being scrutinized, possibly to mitigate any negative impact on the party's image and to avoid further government crackdowns on its members. By disavowing connections, the party attempted to maintain a level of detachment from those facing legal or social repercussions, thereby protecting itself from fallout while creating a narrative of separation from dissenters or those targeted by the state.

The other options present actions that were less consistent with the historical response of the Communist Party. Publicly defending those individuals would have risked greater scrutiny and backlash, providing legal assistance could have been seen as an act of solidarity that they wished to avoid, and encouraging compliance would run counter to the party's ideology and strategies at the time, which focused on resistance against what they viewed as oppressive government actions. Thus, disavowing such connections aligns more closely with the party's tactics during this politically charged period.