 To supply witnesses for the second @-@ tier trials , the Justice Department relied on a dozen informants , who traveled full @-@ time from trial to trial , testifying about communism and the CPUSA . The informants were paid for their time ; for example , Budenz earned $ 70 @,@ 000 ( $ 623 @,@ 772 in 2016 dollars ) from his activities as a witness . 
