Every person who, having been summoned as a witness by the authority of either house or of both houses of the general assembly, or by the authority of any standing or special committee of either house or any joint committee of both houses of the general assembly, to give testimony or to produce any papers, or other items of evidence, upon any matter under inquiry before either house, or both houses, or any such committee of either house or joint committee of both houses of the general assembly, willfully makes default, by failing to appear, or who, having appeared, willfully refuses to answer any question or to produce any papers or other evidence pertinent to the matter under inquiry, whether such question be propounded by any member of such committee, or by any legal counsel of such committee, in its presence and by its permission, commits a Class C misdemeanor.