Texas Congressman Joe Barton apologizes for his nude photo circulating on social media

In an awkward and embarrassing public apology, Texas politician and Republican Congressman Joe Barton released a statement on November 22 saying how sorry he was that a graphic nude photo and sext message he had sent to a woman became public and began making the rounds on social media. TMZ reported that the nude photo he sent did include a visible shot of his penis plus a sext message that read “I want u soo bad. Right now. Deep and hard” Barton’s image was shared online by a Twitter user who censored the photo for public consumption.

The Texas Tribune shared Barton’s public apology, which reads, “While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women,” he said. “Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended. I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down.”

Just earlier this month, the Congressman announced his intentions to run for re-election so that he could once again represent Texas’s 6th congressional district. But yesterday in a candid telephone interview with the Tribune, Barton said that he’d have to re-think that reelection run. “You’re as aware of what was posted as I am,” he said. “I am talking to a number of people, all of whom I have faith in and am deciding how to respond, quite frankly.”

The 68-year-old Barton has been representing Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1984. Barton did not explain how his likeness made the social image rounds in the first place or who the party was that circulated his image; although Fox News reported that the image was first posted from an anonymous Twitter account. Barton’s spokesperson did say today that as of right now, the Congressman wasn’t planning on resigning.