University Times

In a separate legal development, former Pitt-Johnstown student Seamus Johnston, who was born female but identifies as a male, and his partner, Katherine Anne McCloskey, who was born male but identifies as a female, were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in connection with the recent bomb threats on the Pittsburgh campus.

The pair appeared in federal court in Downtown Pittsburgh on April 17. At separate closed hearings, U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer ordered that they turn over handwriting samples and fingerprints. Initially, they refused to do so without a warrant, Johnston said. They were threatened with contempt of court, but by the end of the day’s proceedings an agreement was reached that the couple would comply if the judge agreed not to hold them in contempt. Another hearing is scheduled for April 27 to determine if the couple will be allowed to testify on their own behalf before the grand jury.

“We want to tell them we had absolutely nothing to do with any of the bomb threats,” Johnston said.

He noted that an ENS alert went out to the Pitt campus while he was at the courthouse. “They take all your electronic devices away as you enter the building, and we both were in the hallway in the presence of several reporters when we learned the alert went out,” Johnston said.

Pitt Public Affairs officials did not respond to a request for comment.

—Peter Hart