In my previous post, I reported the criminal past of Janssen Willhoit, Republican candidate for the legislature in St. Johnsbury. He served time in a Kentucky prison for running an investment scam, and failing to make restitution to his victims.
In my post, I wrote the following:
… he has not revealed his troubles; his campaign bio carefully omits any hint of his criminal offense and incarceration, even as it trumpets his advocacy for inmates’ rights.
My conclusion: His offense doesn’t disqualify him from public service, but the voters deserve to know and have the opportunity to make their own judgments. It appears to me that the candidate could tell a powerful and believable story of redemption. But he needs to explain why he deserves the public’s trust.
I’ve been informed by a keen observer in St. J that this is not true: he has been openly speaking of his experiences. From the May 14 Caledonian-Record:
… His path to St. Johnsbury includes being a financial broker, an independent investment advisor, going to prison, and being raped in prison. Being raped earned him time in the “hole” which meant he missed his parole hearing. During his time in prison Janssen committed himself to helping people in need. He started by helping prisoners learn to read, while he was still in prison, and being sent back to the hole for starting a “reading gang.”
Janssen eventually received an executive pardon from the Kentucky governor, and then became instrumental in getting many changes to the Kentucky prison system — including making same-sex rapes a crime. There is a connection between Kentucky and Vermont — Vermont houses inmates in Kentucky and Janssen learned of Vermont’s work with prisoner rights.
Unfortunately for me and for the truth, the Caledonian-Record’s content is behind a paywall, and is not referenced on Internet search engines.
In my searches about Willhoit, I could find no hint that he had revealed his past. His website contains no clue of it. I tried to be thorough, I tried to be factual, and I tried to be fair.
And I failed. For that, I apologize to Mr. Willhoit.
At the end of my post, I wrote the following:
… the people of St. Johnsbury should know about it, and he should fully explain the circumstances of his offense, whether he has repaid his victims, and if not, why not. After that, the voters can make an informed choice.
In fact, he had already done that. He has been forthcoming about his past, and the voters can make an informed choice.
Which leaves me with one unanswered question: did the person who gave me the tip about Willhoit know that he’d been honest about his past? If not, then no harm, no foul. If so, then I’ve been the victim of a dirty political trick. In the future, I’ll try to be more careful about such things.
The Vermont Political Observer. 
“Which leaves me with one unanswered question: did the person who gave me the tip about Willhoit know that he’d been honest about his past? If not, then no harm, no foul. If so, then I’ve been the victim of a dirty political trick. In the future, I’ll try to be more careful about such things.”
And for that reason, I’d really love to know the name of your “source.” Everybody in Caledonia County that pays any attention to politics, including the Caledonia County Republican Committee when discussing his prospective candidacy, has been aware of Janssen’s past from the get-go. I have no doubt that the Caledonia County Democrat Committee was well aware of it, certainly after it hit the news. Which leads me to conclude: John, you’ve been duped.
A couple of other things you may not know about Janssen. He and his wife have taken on the role of being foster parents. Very good ones I might add, as any of us who have seen them interacting with their foster children can attest. While campaigning he has been quite forthright in discussing his past and what he has learned from that. He has been leaving his day job representing the very poorest of the poor in this state to go campaigning door to door for a couple of months now. It is for that reason that you will find far more of his campaign signs across the town of St. Johnsbury at private residences than the other three candidates combined. I suspect people appreciate his honesty and commitment.
John, although we tend to disagree from time to time, as your so-called “frenemy” (your word, if that is a word) I enjoy reading your blog site because, like you, I’m a political junkie. But you can no longer hide as “an anonymous blogger who seeks relevance through savagery and acerbic wit.” If you want this site to rise above the level of typical partisan noise, honesty and accuracy in reporting must overcome the urge to run with whipped up emotions, unchecked rumors and blind partisan spin. It is difficult for me to swallow the excuse that you couldn’t access the Caledonian Record paywall. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the apology and retraction.
Now let me offer a suggestion. If you want people to take this site seriously, try your telephone when doing an investigation. (Janssen’s number can be easily found.) I shouldn’t have to tell you that “you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.”
Your criticism is fair and appropriate, and I have nothing to add except that I’ll try to be more careful in the future.
Joe, the other three candidates haven’t put our signs out yet, and tried to get agreement from Janssen to hold off so the town’s beauty could show during peak foliage without all the clutter of lawn signs. Do another count in a couple weeks…
Well done! You did a fine job owning the truth and your responsibility. I wish more journalists were so upright and forthcoming.
Best, John
John Bauer
http://www.bauervt.com
Let’s get to work!
John Bauer for Vermont POB 454 Jeffersonville, VT 05464 802-279-7222