Rep. Joe Barton apologized Wednesday after a nude selfie he sent to a woman a few years ago surfaced on social media.
TMZ published a censored version of the photo along with a text message purportedly from Mr. Barton that read, “I want u soo bad. Right now. Deep and hard.” The gossip website didn’t reveal any details about the Twitter user who originally posted the messages.
In a statement Wednesday, Mr. Barton, a Texas Republican, suggested that he sent the messages to a woman he was dating while he was separated from his second wife, whom he divorced in 2015.
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“While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women,” Mr. Barton said, The Texas Tribune reported. “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.”
He later told The Tribune that he is “deciding how to respond” further.
A spokeswoman said Mr. Barton had no plans to resign and had filed for re-election.
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