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'''John Abt''' was the Chief of Litigation, [[Agricultural Adjustment Administration]] from 1933 to 1935. Then assistant general connsel of the [[Works Progress Administration]] in 1935.  Later he served as chief counsel on Senator Robert La Follette, Jr.'s [[LaFollette Committee]] from 1936 to 1937.  And then special assistant to the United States Attorney General, 1937 and 1938. In 1948 he worked with the Progressive Party of former Vice President [[Henry A. Wallace]].

'''John Abt''' was the Chief of Litigation, [[Agricultural Adjustment Administration]] from 1933 to 1935, then assistant general counsel of the [[Works Progress Administration]] in 1935.  Later he served as chief counsel on Senator Robert La Follette, Jr.'s [[LaFollette Committee]] from 1936 to 1937, then special assistant to the United States Attorney General, 1937 and 1938. In 1948 he worked with the Progressive Party of former Vice President [[Henry A. Wallace]].

Abt was also a member of the [[Harold Ware|Ware group]], a group of American governmental employees in the 1930's also belonging to the [[Communist Party of the United States]] which advocated the violent removal of the [[United States government]].  After the groups founder, Harold Ware, was killed in an automobile collision in 1935, Abt married Jessica Smith, Ware's widow.

Abt was also a member of the [[Harold Ware|Ware group]], a group of American governmental employees in the 1930's also belonging to the [[Communist Party of the United States]] which advocated the violent removal of the [[United States government]].  After the groups founder, Harold Ware, was killed in an automobile collision in 1935, Abt married Jessica Smith, Ware's widow.

In late 1943 [[Jacob Golos]], who headed the [[Communist Party of the United States]] [[CPUSA#Secret_apparatus|secret apparatus]], was referred to group of CPUSA members by General Secretary of the party, [[Earl Browder]].  This group of government employees had been engaged for sometime in espionage for Browder, and held regular clandestine meetings at John Abt's appartment.  In early 1944, Golos sent [[Elizabeth Bentley]] to make contact with the group at Abt's apartment.  In attendence was Abt, [[Victor Perlo]], [[Charles Kramer]], [[Harry Magdoff]] and [[Edward Fitzgerald (Soviet spy)|Edward Fitzgerald]].  They discussed paying party dues to Bentley, the various types of information each would be able to deliver, and the type of information other members not in attendance would also be willing to deliver.

In late 1943 [[Jacob Golos]], who headed the [[Communist Party of the United States]] [[CPUSA#Secret_apparatus|secret apparatus]], was referred to group of CPUSA members by General Secretary of the party, [[Earl Browder]].  This group of government employees had been engaged for sometime in espionage for Browder, and held regular clandestine meetings at John Abt's apartment.  In early 1944, Golos sent [[Elizabeth Bentley]] to make contact with the group at Abt's apartment.  In attendance were Abt, [[Victor Perlo]], [[Charles Kramer]], [[Harry Magdoff]] and [[Edward Fitzgerald (Soviet spy)|Edward Fitzgerald]].  They discussed paying party dues to Bentley, the various types of information each would be able to deliver, and the type of information other members not in attendance would also be willing to deliver.

In late 1943 the FBI opened an investigation of Abt.  Its surveillance showed frequent meetings in the early months of 1944 between Abt and a man then known as Alexander Stevens, one of the several pseudonyms used by [[Josef Peters]], who at one time headed the CPUSA secret appartus but was still involved in clandestine activities.   

In late 1943 the FBI opened an investigation of Abt.  Its surveillance showed frequent meetings in the early months of 1944 between Abt and a man then known as Alexander Stevens, one of the several pseudonyms used by [[Josef Peters]], who at one time headed the CPUSA secret apparatus but was still involved in clandestine activities.   

Abt turned the [[Perlo group]] over to the [[KGB]] in 1944.

Abt turned the [[Perlo group]] over to the [[KGB]] in 1944.