Texas Republican lawmaker Joe Barton has apologized after release a nude photo of him on Twitter, further acknowledging that he has been engaged in sexual relations but only with “mature adult women.”
US House Representative Barton said Wednesday that he wished he had used "better judgment" after the lewd photo surfaced the social media.
"While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women," Barton said in a statement Wednesday. "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."
The picture was shared by an anonymous Twitter account at a time that many are coming forward to accuse powerful figures of sexual misconduct.
The United States grapples with the sexual assault and harassment scandals that have left the world of entertainment, business and politics in a state of shock.
Numerous sexual misconduct allegations have been made in recent weeks against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The scandal has rippled in a wide range of industries, encouraging victims of sexual assault to share their stories on social media under the hashtag #MeToo.
High-profile scandals have so far engulfed other big names such as renowned actor Kevin Spacey and politicians like Republican Senate hopeful Roy Moore and Democratic Senator Al Franken.
"You're as aware of what was posted as I am," Barton told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday during a phone interview. "I am talking to a number of people, all of whom I have faith in and am deciding how to respond, quite frankly,"
A Barton spokeswoman has said that he has no intention of stepping down over the scandal.