[1] In 1945, Budenz renounced Communism and became a vocal anti-Communist, appearing as an expert witness at governmental hearings and writing about his experiences.

He attended St. John's Catholic High School in Indianapolis, Xavier University in Cincinnati, and St. Mary's College in Topeka, Kansas, before receiving his LL.B.

[7] In 1945, Budenz renounced Communism, returned to the Roman Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Fulton Sheen, and became an anti-communist advocate.

[8] Formerly the author of numerous articles and pamphlets in support of Communist causes, after 1945 Budenz wrote several books relating his criticisms and antipathy towards Communism.

He voluntarily confessed that he had participated in espionage and other efforts on behalf of the Soviet Union, including discussion of the assassination of Leon Trotsky with CPUSA chairman Earl Browder.

"[13] He also corroborated Chambers's claim that Lee Pressman, John Abt, and Nathan Witt were party members.

He was a key witness in the 1950 hearings before the Tydings Committee, which had been called to investigate charges made by Senator Joseph McCarthy that the State Department had numerous Soviet moles in its ranks.

In the 1950 Tydings Committee hearings, Budenz testified that Owen Lattimore, one of the so-called "China Hands", was a member of a Communist cell within the Institute of Pacific Relations but not a Soviet agent.

"[citation needed] In his 1953 book Techniques of Communism, Budenz wrote a subsection on Professor Frederick L. Schuman in a chapter on "Affecting Public Opinion."

Citing Eugene Lyons' 1941 book Red Decade, Budenz asserted that Schuman had supported CPUSA head William Z.

Budenz married his second wife Margaret Rodgers of Pittsburgh, by whom he had four daughters: Julia, Josephine, Justine and Joanna.

Later he was frequently called as a witness in trials of accused Communists, and he appeared often before Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigating committee.