GOP Rep. Joe Barton Apologizes For X-Rated Photo

The Washington Post reports:

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) apologized Wednesday after an explicit photo of him was posted to an anonymous Twitter account and began to circulate online.

Barton, the vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he had sexual relationships with “other mature adult women” while separated from his second wife before their 2015 divorce.

“Each was consensual,” he said of the relationships in a statement. “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.”

The photo is still on Twitter if you really need to see it, but I’d guess you don’t.

Here’s how @RepJoeBarton is responding to a graphic photo of him posted on Twitter: https://t.co/yxxGH3wkkX pic.twitter.com/QrBnrxsQhN

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 22, 2017

– oh, this Rep. Joe Barton? ??‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/8Qn5zRFteh

— HELL. YES. (@hellyestrader) November 22, 2017

So Rep. Barton was engaging in a consensual adult relationship, and the person he did that with shared his nude photo without his consent—am I crazy or isn't that revenge porn?https://t.co/Co2oE9usm6

— Olivia Messer ? (@OliviaMesser) November 22, 2017

Well. This is getting interesting.https://t.co/ftOKVP41Iv pic.twitter.com/iBq9Xv2D7c

— Olivia Messer ? (@OliviaMesser) November 22, 2017