[News] [PA, USA] Transgendered couple say Pitt threat investigators questioned them
Stephanie Stevens
Transgendered couple say Pitt threat investigators questioned them
By Bill Vidonic, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 14, 2012
A transgendered Cambria County couple said federal agents
investigating the ongoing bomb threats at the University of Pittsburgh
questioned them for nearly three hours this week, and the couple has
been ordered to appear in front of a federal grand jury Tuesday.
"We have absolutely nothing to do with (the threats) except for
wanting the people who are making the threats caught and prosecuted to
the fullest extent of the law," said Katherine Anne McCloskey, 55, of
Jackson. "Whoever is doing this is a lunatic."
McCloskey, who was born a man but lives as a woman, and partner Seamus
Johnston, 22, who was born female but lives as a male and is
undergoing hormone treatments, denied any involvement with the bomb
threats. They said they will appear before the grand jury Tuesday, and
will surrender two computers.
"I'm very afraid, but I'm as confident as any innocent person can be
in this country," Johnston said.
It was unclear this afternoon if anyone else was ordered to appear
before the grand jury. Federal and Pitt representatives declined
comment.
Johnston said he believes the investigation is in retaliation to an
ongoing legal dispute he has with the university. The university
expelled Johnston from Pitt-Johnstown this year and charged him with
indecent exposure because he used a men's locker room. Johnston is
appealing the expulsion, awaiting trial on the criminal charges, and
said he filed a civil suit and complaints with several human relations
commissions against the university.
Johnston said two FBI agents spoke to him on Wednesday about the legal
dispute. McCloskey said that when she asked, "I assume we are persons
of interest in the bomb threats," one of the agents nodded yes. Those
agents did not return phone messages and e-mails left for them today.
U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton said Wednesday that tips helped
investigators identify "potential suspects" in the rash of threats,
but did not name anyone.
Five more bomb threats were reported today, meaning someone has
targeted nearly 90 university buildings since mid-February, delivering
threats by e-mail or on messages written at various campus locations.
Authorities have not found any explosives in any of the threats.
McCloskey said the couple received several phone threats Friday,
including one person who said, "You're gonna get blown up yourself."
The couple said they reported the threats to local authorities.
Copyright © 2012 by Trib Total Media, Inc.
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