Rep. Joe Barton, whose nude pic was spread on the internet Wednesday, contacted Capitol Police in regards to the woman who had possession of it — possibly making him a victim of “revenge porn.”
The Texas congressman was recorded on audio tape telling the woman he would contact authorities if the lewd photo of him was used “in a way that would negatively affect my career,” according to The Washington Post.The woman told the paper that, at that time, she had became aware that Barton, who is not married, was involved in relationships with other women.
“I want your word that this ends,” Barton said in a 2015 phone call to the woman.
“I will be completely straight with you. I am ready if I have to, I don’t want to, but I should take all this crap to the Capitol Hill Police and have them launch an investigation. And if I do that, that hurts me potentially big time.”
Barton told the paper Wednesday that the phone conversation contained evidence of a “potential crime” against him.
The Dallas Morning News noted that Barton’s situation could apply to a “revenge porn law” enacted by Texas legislators in 2015.
He added that Capitol Police had opened an inquiry on the matter.
The law criminalizes the act of disclosing pictures of someone’s “intimate parts exposed” without their consent.