Disgraced US Rep. Joe Barton, finally succumbed to mounting pressure from conservatives, will not seek reelection in 2018.
According to the news site Axios, Barton made his decision on Thursday. “I’ve always listened to people in Texas and worked for them in Washington, and I’ve been listening to a lot of people the last week in Texas … There are enough people who lost faith in me that it’s time to step aside and let there be a new voice for the 6th district in Washington, so I am not going to run for re-election.”
Nude photos the 68-year-old Barton took of himself several years ago and texted to a woman were publicly released on social media last week. Since then, other women – including conservative stalwart Kelly Canon – have come forward about Barton’s inappropriate behavior.
An onslaught of calls from conservatives ensued, demanding that Barton leave Congress. Most recently, state senators Brian Birdwell and Konni Burton demanded that Barton resign.
Barton has served in the US House for 34 years.
