How would you interpret this phrase “for the public record”? The information release concerning Shepherd states that House Un-American Activities Committee has full authority to subpoena a suspect and ask questions based on substantive researches, for the public record. If the hearing warrants, criminal charges will follow. The subcommittee is charged to investigate communism in many guises including “education,” which pertains to Harrison Shepherd as many schoolchildren read his books about the Mexican civilizations. In closing, the letter states, “Through a simple exercise of question and answer, the witness may prove his innocence or be seen to hide behind the Fifth Amendment.” How would you interpret this phrase “for the public record” in the first sentence? Thanks. And this excerpt is taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.