When we last heard from Jarec Wentworth, real name Teofil Brank, he was reaching out to his admirers from prison, asking for, among other odd items, a $200 Thor cosplay hammer.
That was in January of 2020, and the ex-Sean Cody performer has apparently moved on from such childish playthings and set his sights on Sacramento.
Brank, who in 2015 was found guilty of extorting gay Republican millionaire Donald Burns, floated a run in the California recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom, tweeting: “Should I run for governor of California? At this point, why not.”
https://twitter.com/JarecWentworth2/status/1387543840635035648?s=20
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Brank elaborated in a response to a commenter who was likely referencing Caitlyn Jenner’s campaign. “We had a clown for president,” they wrote, “and now a hungry desesperate [sic] for publicity clown is thinking about doing it, why not you, who has seen the best and worst of your your young life and came out on top.”
Brank replied with: “Too much corruption in our system. Time to clean up and bring life back to California. SF was my favorite little city. Now it’s a dump. What happen to this state while I was away?”
https://twitter.com/JarecWentworth2/status/1387566251543719937
Another commenter saw things a bit differently, writing: “‘Why not’ is not a reason, and a crook running to clean up corruption is laughable.”
"Why not" is not a reason, and a crook running to clean up corruption is laughable.
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) May 1, 2021
To recap what Brank means when he says he’s “been away,” Republican donor Donald Burns admitted to paying Brank for sex “at least four times” and giving him $1500 to $2500 “referral fees” anytime the then-25-year-old adult film star introduced him to new male paramours.
After the relationship soured, however, Brank threatened to publish explicit photos of Burns if the millionaire didn’t fork over $1.5 million, a $180,000 Audi8 sports car, a motorcycle, and buy him a lavish condo in L.A.
Brank was arrested in an FBI sting operation. He spent 70 months behind bars and is currently on probation, maintaining his innocence throughout the ordeal.
Oddly enough, if he’s serious about running (and we don’t think he is), he wouldn’t be the first adult film star to seek the office. In 2003, adult performer Mary Cary ran in the recall election of Gray Davis.
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Donston
From what I can tell a lot of porn performers/former porn performers say problematic or crazy or loopy or hateful things on social media (especially a good percentage of supposedly “straight”, gay4pay, overall hetero-leaning dudes). But this wasn’t particularly “out there”. And he was clearly not being serious. While the tweets themselves gained no traction or attention. I know this site often post the most random, unnecessary stuff. But this is the most non-story in a long time. This just seems like an excuse to use porn and a criminal past for clicks. And will “queer media” ever get over its obsession with sex work/porn performers (and no, I’m not “slut shaming”)?
GayNOTQueer
Agreed. Being a sex worker doesn’t make you stupid, but there seems to be a ton of stupid sex workers… the other thing that people seem to get hung up on is the idea that being a sex-worker automatically makes you a good person. Calling out a dim witted sex-worker should not be ‘slut-shaming’. If people are going to step into a political arena they should be ready to engage politically, and not get a pass because… “oh ma gawd, he’s got abs and he’s straight!’.
There are plenty of average, run of the mill, LGBT folks who are politically engaged that get no coverage here. They’re not pretty enough.
This site specially tries to get into a lot of ‘woke’ lecturing and posturing, and when they cover crap like this, it all just shows it’s smoke and mirrors; it’s jumping on a trend. Articles such as these only show just how vapid writers for this site are.
Vince
He’s already proven he can work with Republicans, knows how to negotiate tough business deals, and he has small business experience. Plus, he looks really good naked.
He can campaign on bringing back the porn industry to California or something cool. Either way he’s got my vote.
Bengali
We’ve seen what happens when celebrities run for office. They make a mockery of it because they don’t understand how to work the political system. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to even consider them.
LifeinShaw
@bengali And non-celebrities have not? Ronald Reagan did a fine job of working the political system. He understood. Don’t care for him but you have to admire how we worked it. Ditto for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fred Grandy, Sonny Bono, Fred Thompson, Al Franken, and I’m sure there are more.
Fahd
I think his felony conviction on extortion might disqualify him from serving as Governor in California. If he’s still on parole, I don’t think he can even vote yet.
To me, 5 years in jail for his extortion attempts seems like an unreasonably severe sentence, even though I’m sure his extortion attempts were reprehensible. What damage was really done? What loss did the victim really suffer? (I don’t find him particular attractive, so it’s not that.)
I attribute the severe sentence to two things: 1. A prominent, wealthy, well-connected Republican donor was the target of the extortion attempts, and 2. Gay sex was involved.
PSHank3
As an attorney in CA, I can tell you that this dude will NOT be running for governor, as he is not qualified as a convicted felon on parole. So, who cares?
JPB
Yeah, wouldn’t you think anyone he pals around with would’ve told him that?
SFMike
Yeah but the story gave Queerty a reason to run that HOT picture of him so I’m not complaining. I’d rather look at this ripped dude than another pic of reality show douche bag Jenner.
MacAdvisor
PSHank3, I must doubt your bona fides as an attorney as any practicing attorneys would know the difference between parole, which the Feds don’t have except for legacy convictions, and supervised release, which is the current system and what Wentworth is on. He can most certainly register and vote in California while on Federal supervised release and he could if he were on parole (see: ht tps ://w ww. sos. ca.gov /elections /voting-resources /voting-california /who-can-vote-california /voting-rights-californians ). You are absolutely correct, however, a felony conviction is a bar to even running for a California or local office, but only if the crime involves forgery, bribery, malfeasance in office, embezzlement of public funds, perjury, falsifying public records or high crimes and misdemeanor pursuant to the US Constitution, Article VII, Section 8 or the felony was within the last twenty years. The conviction must also be disclosed. That would prevent him for running for Governor, but he could still run for Congress as those are Federal offices with a different set of standards.
woodroad34
nearly 6 years in prison–he’s probably bottomed out from a potential political career. But it’s good to see he’s rising up to new prospects–just in time to hit a re-opened gym (if one will allow him to) after all the prison food.
But it’s not impossible for a gay porn star to make good. Steve Schulte (Colt model Nick Chase) became a West Hollywood council member and mayor; he also ran for the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District…as well as being in various other governmental offices. Of course Steve Schulte was Yale educated; Teofil not so much. Teofil’s anger management is really too awful.
Joe Dalmas
Steve Schulte was not a porn model. He posed naked for some (by today’s standards) pretty mild Colt displays. This Brank guy is a total sociopath and I wish he was deported back to Eastern Europe or wherever he came from never to be admitted back in the US.
cubcmh
Best potential candidate yet!
ShiningSex
HE’S GARBAGE
ladron
He should run as a Republican – god knows, he has all that seed money.
mailliw110
That’s just…too good!
amanwithanedge
sex worker = prostitute
Leash
And? I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here, but I assume you wanted to discredit the work of prostitutes/sex workers whatever you want to call it. So let me ask you a question: Do you not enjoy pornography? If you do, I think you need to get of your high horse immediately.
fishpaw13
Why do they always say EX-SEAN CODY performer? The guy has been around. Why not say current MEN.com performer. Sean cody gets a bad rap.
phillycap
Well, there’s no difference, since Sean Cody AND men.com are owned by the same corporation….
ShiningSex
HE’S AN IDIOT. WHY DOES ANYONE TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY. GARBAGE!
twomen4u
Most of the time at least where I live a convicted felon cannot run for office. Someone check that out for CA.
trojanboy
No. No, and er No.
Caddy4J
Really? Everyone’s worked up over this? Who really cares?
BLAKENOW
Isn’t this douche is Canadian ? if not can we please deport his pathetic ass there?
winemaker
Jerec Wentworth for California governor and why not? The one we have now is a disgrace and a poor excuse on all counts. Please no ‘we should support newsom as he started the gay marriage train’. Well folks, newsom did this for political gains only and from his actions which speak louder than words, doesn’t give a rats ass about anyone but himself. People need to stop being so naive about gavin ‘giveaway the store for free and just about everything else’ nwsom. If you’re still satisfied with the lip service this clown keeps giving, the exploding homelessness, crime and unaffordable costs of living in California, you’re sadly clueless as to how a one time great state like California should run and deserves better. newsom ‘s trying to do to the whole state what he did to San Francisco the one time jewel by the golden gate as mayor and that is destroy it allowing the place do become the ‘doo doo’ capital of America and a national disgrace.’ Sadly in many places he and his cronies have succeeded and many are so bad they’ll take years to recover if at all.
Manrico Jimenez
I came here for the NSFW link because it’s bedtime and I need my “nightcap” if you know what I mean…
SPEEDOSWIMMER
*BURP*
strap2900
Better than Caitlyn Jenner, the Trump Trans.
mz.sam
Congratulations, Teofil! May you and your running mate Caitlyn Jenner find success with your hapless campaign. Otherwise, best of luck on your OF site.
Joseph1971
What an idiot…. He really thought he would get away with that? Dumber then a box of hair….