The Texas Republican representative Joe Barton told a woman he would complain to US Capitol police if sexually explicit photographs of him and other material from their relationship were to be exposed publicly, according to a newspaper report.

The Washington Post reported the threat on Wednesday after Barton, from North Texas, apologized for a nude photo of him that circulated on social media. The photo of Barton appeared on an anonymous Twitter account. It was not immediately known who posted the photo or when it was taken.

Barton, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and the longest-serving member of Congress from Texas, announced his re-election bid this month in a district that includes several counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Earlier on Wednesday, his spokeswoman told the Dallas Morning News he had no plans to step down.

Barton issued a statement saying that while separated from his second wife, prior to their divorce in 2015, he had sexual relationships “with other mature adult women”. The 68-year-old said each relationship was consensual and had ended.

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

A woman whom the Post did not identify told the newspaper of Barton’s threat over the sexually explicit photographs, videos and messages he had sent to her. The woman described sexual encounters and contact extending over five years, beginning with her posting a message on Barton’s Facebook page in 2011.



She also shared with the Post a secretly recorded telephone conversation with Barton in 2015 in which he warned her against using the material “in a way that would negatively affect my career”.

The Post reported that the woman, who is not married, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy.

A message left at Barton’s district office in Arlington, Texas, was not returned. The voicemail for his office in Washington was full.

In a statement to the Post, Barton said a transcript of the telephone conversation provided by the newspaper may be “evidence” of a “potential crime against me”. He also said Capitol police had informed him on Wednesday they were opening an inquiry. Capitol police did not respond to a request for comment late on Wednesday.

There is no federal law prohibiting sharing intimate pictures of other adults without their consent. In 2015 Texas passed a revenge porn law which the Dallas Morning News said criminalized “the act of intentionally disclosing pictures or videos ‘depicting another person with the person’s intimate parts exposed or engaged in sexual conduct’ without their consent”.

Barton was a consultant in the oil and gas industry before he joined the House in 1985. He is the vice-chairman of the powerful energy and commerce committee, which he chaired from 2004 to 2007.



He made headlines in 2010, when he apologised to BP for the company’s treatment by Congress during hearings over the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 2013, he cited the biblical flood to dispute human links to climate change.

Barton has been the longtime manager of the GOP congressional baseball team. In June, he was taking part in a team practice when a gunman opened fire, injuring another congressman and others.

