"One of our employees has been suspended from work pending completion of an internal investigation.  We have received a request from him asking if he can attend the Christmas party that is on tonight.  How do I handle it?"

The first question is to establish why the employee has been suspended, and then to consider whether that reason justifies asking him to remain away from the Christmas party.  In most cases where there is a legitimate basis for the suspension, there will also be a legitimate basis for requiring the employee to remain away from work social events.  For example, if the reason for suspension is that there is a potential threat to employees, or that the employee