Republican Rep. Joe Barton apologizes after lewd photo surfaces

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, apologized Wednesday after an explicit video of him circulated on social media. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton apologized Wednesday after a nude photo and lewd text message supposedly from him surfaced on social media 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. "Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended.”

Barton, 68, added, “I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down."

An anonymous account on Twitter earlier this week posted a censored photo of a nude man and suggested it was Barton. The account also tweeted a screenshot of a text message from "Joe B" using strongly sexual language.

The apology was first reported by The Texas Tribune.

Barton, who was first elected to Congress in 1984, is the vice-chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Texas Tribune reported that the photo has provoked speculation about Barton’s future in Congress.

“I am talking to a number of people, all of whom I have faith in and am deciding how to respond, quite frankly," the lawmaker told the outlet.

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The photo surfaced as Congress is dealing with several other sex scandals, including Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers facing allegations of making unwanted advances toward staffers.