Bailey drops out of school board race amid ‘worry for my wife’s safety’
Cynthia Prairie | Feb 27, 2026 | Comments 4
By Cynthia Prairie
© 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC
His decision comes after two days of facing outrage, criticism, but also support, when a right-wing troll from Brattleboro found, repackaged and distributed a video of he and his wife having sex.
Screenshot of John Keller’s offer of the Poitras contents taken Friday morning by Jesse Bailey.
The distributed video also included photos, illegally taken from Bailey’s wife’s private OnlyFans page, and included commentary by the troll, Hank Poitras, as well as by Chester resident John Keller.
Bailey told The Telegraph Friday evening that the continuing harassment and sharing of the Poitras video has caused his wife to feel so afraid for her safety that he is no position to do anything but care for her. To read Thursday’s article, click here.
Even though the video has been removed by multiple platforms, such as X, YouTube and Facebook, and Keller has been banned by multiple groups on Facebook and his “free speech” account suspended, he is offering to send Poitras’ video to anyone who messages him through social media.
The original video and photos were behind a paywall at Bailey’s wife’s OnlyFans site, which catered to subscription buyers only who, by agreement, are barred from sharing the contents. The contents are also copyrighted.
However Bailey said, Keller and others are not “going to let terms of services stand in their way. … they want to harass her. They want to make her feel afraid. It’s disgusting that they have chosen to make her the target.”
In a letter to the editor that prompted this article, Bailey wrote, “My run for the school board has been cited as the reason for this harassment. I worry for my wife’s safety, and I fear this harassment will continue for as long as I’m involved with the school board.”
Bailey said he contacted Chester Police Thursday and the officer took a statement from the couple and later called to say that he wasn’t sure there was anything that the police could pursue at the moment.
Although Bailey has dropped out, his name will still appear on the ballot and the vote will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St.
Filed Under: Latest News
Comments (4)
Leave a Reply
Editor's Note: Due to the recent repeated comments from some readers, including those using aliases, which is against our stated policy, we will be closing comments after an article has been up for eight days. We will allow one comment per reader per article. As always, first name or initial and last name required. COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT THEM. Again, no aliases accepted.
I think you are confusing the first article with the second. The first article — not the second — stated: “As for his run for school board, Bailey said he is staying in the race. ‘If my wife feels that me being in it creates a greater risk for her, I will leave the race. For now, we’ll let the voters decide. But my wife is and always will be my priority.’” (That story was published on Thursday.)
The second article about him leaving the race (published on Friday) quoted Jesse Bailey citing his reasons as they “are not going to let terms of services stand in their way. … they want to harass her. They want to make her feel afraid. It’s disgusting that they have chosen to make her the target.”
The data supporting the story of Jesse Bailey dropping out is my numerous short interviews with him over two days. I also interviewed him last night after he won the race to see if he changed his mind. (See story: https://www.chestertelegraph.org/2026/03/04/whisper-internet-campaigns-fail-as-jonynas-roper-fierman-bailey-win-their-chester-races/)
He responded: “I never really expected to win going into the race.” But he reiterated that he “pretty much made up” his mind and has to put his wife first. “I just have to figure out the next steps.” He added, “I am so appreciative to everyone who supported me.”
The “next steps” he is referring to is the process for withdrawing from the race. Now he may change his mind; he has that right. And if he does we will report on that as well.
So my reporting cites the first-person source over and over again and there is nothing either dangerous or irresponsible in my journalism.
Interesting — this article makes a bold claim, but sources don’t support it.
First, it’s interesting that Cynthia can link her own article (the one where she claims Jesse withdrew from the race), but coincidentally does not link to Jesse’s letter to the editor despite referencing its existence ( for anyone interested in that letter: https://www.chestertelegraph.org/2026/02/25/to-the-editor-supporting-teachers-among-reasons-why-im-running-for-gmusd-board/?fbclid=IwdGRleAQVkONleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeGq6qRhcDJsc-EAA19D06aZ-eJ8jPCBxAGskeKtgThtkuz_de0HqdwYUSW8Q_aem_aQxdt0yjd0Xv41wfsqNc8Q) where is intent is still clear. Additionally, in Cynthia’s earlier article (the one she cites here – https://www.chestertelegraph.org/2026/02/26/gmusd-candidate-jesse-bailey-in-hot-water-over-onlyfans-video-with-wife/) she claims he exits the race referencing the quote, “going to let terms of services stand in their way. … they want to harass her. They want to make her feel afraid. It’s disgusting that they have chosen to make her the target.” Later in Cynthia’s SAME article she states, “As for his run for school board, Bailey said he is staying in the race. ‘If my wife feels that me being in it creates a greater risk for her, I will leave the race. For now, we’ll let the voters decide. But my wife is and always will be my priority.’ “
Nowhere in either of these partially cited sources does Cynthia have data supporting the claim that Jesse dropped from the race, which is a dangerous and irresponsible journalism.
The actions taken by Mr. Poitras and Mr. Heller are against Vt Law, and could carry a jail sentence of up to 2 years and up to a $2000 fine. It’s called a Revenge Porn law.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/13/059/02606
What a shame. This is just flat-out sad and a really poor reflection on our community.