Not only did he apologise, reports have also claimed that Barton has said that he is reconsidering his political future, although, making it clear that he does not intend to resign. 

Talking about the picture, he said that the picture was taken when he separated from his second wife. Barton had divorced his first wife in 1993 and the second one about two years ago. 

What remains unanswered is that, who posted the image on an anonymous Twitter account? How he/she obtained it and what were the intentions? 

The photo comes at a time when allegations of sexual harassment are running high on Capitol Hill. In the photo, along with Barton, is a woman in a polka dress who is unidentified. 

Texas has a law against revenge porn under which a person who posts a nude image of someone else on the internet, can be charged with a fine of up to $4,000 or be imprisoned for one year in a country jail. The experts are yet to comment on whether Barton can be considered a victim of this crime or not. 

Barton is one of the ten remaining House Republicans who started their tenures in the 1980's and also holds the credit for being the fifth longest serving Republican overall.

However, what remains to be seen is that will such a long and exciting political career be brought to an unceremonious end by a single photograph. And while he might or might not resign, for sure, the now viral image is going to haunt his prospects in the next elections, if he decides to contest.