Federal agents have accused a transgender woman and her transitioning transgender male partner of being connected to 5 bomb threats made over the weekend against the University of Pittsburgh. Alarmingly, more than 90 bomb threats have been made since February 13.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:
“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 and will surrender two computers for study.
“I’m very afraid, but I’m as confident as any innocent person can be in this country,” Johnston said.
Investigators may believe that Johnston is disgruntled and has possible bad blood with Pitt. He was expelled in January for “indecent exposure” in a men’s locker room.
McCloskey and Johnston said they believe Pitt officials gave their names to federal investigators because of an ongoing legal dispute Johnston has with the university.
The university in January expelled Johnston, a junior computer science student, from Pitt-Johnstown this year and charged him with indecent exposure after he used a men’s locker room. His birth certificate identifies him as female though he is undergoing hormone therapy.
McClosky says the couple themselves received a number of bomb threats at their home themselves a few days ago.
How about we take this to the next level?
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What crazy person is making bomb threats all over the place in Pittsburgh? Weigh in if you think they’re credible at all in the comments.
kat
Let’s problematize the idea of getting expelled for using the locker room of your self-expressed gender…
GreatGatsby2011
@sheena: wtf???
EmmaMTF
How does being transgender have ANYTHING to do with this story?
kat
It has nothing to do with it. That’s one of the issues. The other glaring issue – and one that I’m surprised didn’t make the news when it happened – is that Seamus was kicked out for “indecent exposure” when he used the men’s locker room.
It’s irrelevant – but we all know it will be used as evidence for his questionable mental state, “indecent exposure” record, and as evidence of a grudge against the school.
If he sent bomb threats, send him to jail. But it’s going to turn into a media circus about GAY TERRORISTS THREATENING OUR CHILDREN AT SCHOOL!!
Franco
Transgendered individuals can be terrible people too. What a thought!
Clockwork
It was only a matter of time until a trans-activist snapped and went from “Glitter bombs” to the subversive tactics of Al Qaeda, Eric Rudolph, and “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.
Kev C
How do you get expelled for indecent exposure in a locker room? Does Pitt U have some sort of Burqa requirement for men and women?
Riker
@EmmaMTF: It is very relevant. The accused person was allegedly expelled from Pitt due to an issue related to being transgender. This may have given them motive. If you RTFA, you will see how being trans is related.
@Kev C: We don’t know what exactly happened. It is entirely possible that there was more than just nudity involved, and the alleged incident was reduced to indecent exposure on a plea bargain. Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor, whereas certain other things that could happen in a locker room might rise to the level of sexual offenders, so it is fairly common for plea deals to be offered for nonviolent offenses.
I’m not saying that this is necessarily what happened, of course, but there’s a good chance there was more involved than we know.
Kev C
@Riker:
Here’s what smells funny. The University of Pittsburg may have violated their civil rights by expelling Johnston. And Pitt U. probably gave their names to FBI agents as potential suspects in a spate of bomb threats, which include threats against the trans couple. A University with a large islamic outreach is blaming transgenders for terrorism. Something stinks at P.U.
Riker
@Kev C: That is certainly a possibility. However, rather than rushing to shout about discrimination, we should wait to hear all the facts. There are several different plausible explanations for the incident.
Kev C
@Riker: http://www.wjactv.com/news/news/transgender-student-claims-discrimination-upj/nFrcF/
It looks like discrimination to me. Fucktarded campus cops getting their panties in a bunch because a TG is using the men’s locker room.
Riker
@Kev C: To me it appears that the University made reasonable attempts to accommodate him. I wouldn’t want someone with breasts and a vagina changing next to me, either. I can see how it would have made a scene. Even if he has documents showing that the state considers him male, he is registered as a female and has female parts. Unlike a bathroom where business takes place behind closed doors, locker rooms/showers involve public nudity by definition.
Kev C
@Riker: Johnston should not be expelled for using the locker room, nor should he be forced to dress seperately in seclusion. He should be left alone and treated equally. Students and police should not be “checking out his junk”, because it’s illegal to invade his privacy, even in a locker room.
The University of Pittsburgh may want to impose Shariah law on students, but it doesn’t make it legal for them to impose Shariah.
rock
I attend pitt johnstown and seamus still has female genitalia. Some students complained and she was offered her own bathroom. She refused and kept going in the man’s locker room. The school handled it well but she was so bent on making a statement. The reason she got kicked out was because she was constantly threatening to sue the school. Also her license still said female so I agree with my school 100%
Kev C
@rock: Youths today like to get up into everyone’s bizsnatch. They are acting as voyeurs and invading privacy on college campuses. And when they see a gay or trans person they become hostile. The trans person doesn’t need seperate but equal treatment!! The school needs to punish those who invade privacy of gay and trans students, and enforce American laws, not Saudi Arabian laws.
[email protected]
This certainly got rid of Pitt’s lawsuits…But, of course, a Univ administration wouldn’t do anything nefarious to stop a Federal lawsuit, would they?
jarvisbearcub
The threats have also spread to other local schools, though. There’s no reason that someone with a specific gripe would focus on Pitt.
As a local, I don’t buy this for a second. This story is a few days old and they would have all the phone records they need at this point to keep them from being able to deny it to the media.
Katherine Anne McCloskey
Yes the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, like the rest of Cambria County does not allow disrobing in the showers. to wit: criminal complaint against Seamus Johnston : “Actor did expose his or her genitals in public namely the Sports Center men’s locker room..,,.” All showering and changing must be done with one’s genitals covered.
The investigation is so hot that yesterday the University Police, Pittsburgh City Police, district attorney for Allegheny County, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our old friends in the FBI refused to allow Seamus and myself to come in for an interview nor would they take statement. In other words, no one believes we are guilty enough to even have a talk.