--- description: "I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down." title: Texas Rep. Joe Barton Apologizes After Nude Photo Surfaces Online image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46607618630e93e3/6988e6c897cdff17996b35b3/joe-barton.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Congress](/tag/congress/) ## Congress Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Texas Rep. Joe Barton Apologizes After Nude Photo Surfaces Online by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 22, 2017 7:34 PM CUT by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 22, 2017 7:34 PM CUT Rep. [Joe Barton](http://time.com/4818409/steve-scalise-shooting-congress-reaction/ "undefined") (R-Tex.) has apologized after an anonymous user posted a nude photo of him on social media earlier this week. “While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women,” Barton said in a statement on Wednesday, the [Texas _Tribune_](https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/22/us-rep-joe-barton-deciding-how-respond-after-graphic-photo-circulates-/ "undefined") reports. “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.” [Barton](http://time.com/4820569/steve-scalise-shooting-congressional-baseball-game-raises-money/ "undefined"), who has served in the [House of Representatives](http://time.com/4522697/how-to-get-the-house-of-representatives-working-again/ "undefined") since 1985, announced earlier this month that he would seek reelection. In an interview with the _Tribune_ on Tuesday, he said he was contemplating his political future. “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.” It’s unclear if the person who posted the photo of Barton [violated laws](https://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/21/texas-law-criminalizing-revenge-porn-goes-effect/ "undefined") prohibiting the distribution of nude images without the subject’s consent, a practice sometimes called “revenge porn.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5035589/texas-rep-joe-barton-apologies-after-nude-photo-surfaces-online/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5035589/texas-rep-joe-barton-apologies-after-nude-photo-surfaces-online/"},"headline":"Texas Rep. 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