LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California woman on Tuesday accused Congressman Eric Swalwell of raping her in 2018 and plans to report the incident to law enforcement. Lonna Drewes revealed the alleged assault took place at a hotel in Southern California, claiming that after consuming one glass of wine, she believes Swalwell drugged her before the rape occurred.
Swalwell, who dropped out of the California governor’s race on Sunday and announced his pending resignation from Congress amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, faced serious scrutiny after Drewes’ claims.
“I did not consent to any sexual activity,” Drewes stated emphatically during a news conference.
Swalwell's attorney, Elias Debaie, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new allegations.
Drewes disclosed the alleged crime to friends and documented it in her journal, citing therapy sessions she engaged in at a sexual assault center in Connecticut. Although Drewes chose not to undergo a rape kit, her attorney, Lisa Bloom, indicated that the court would review her journal entries alongside text messages and photographs in the forthcoming report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Prior to this incident, Drewes had met Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California, twice. They were connected through discussions about her career as a model and her fashion software business, in which Swalwell offered assistance.
On the night of the alleged assault, they attended a restaurant opening together before Swalwell suggested stopping by his hotel room for paperwork. Once inside, Drewes reported feeling drugged and subsequently experienced the traumatic events of the night. She further alleged that Swalwell choked her to the point of unconsciousness.
After the surfacing of Drewes’ accusations, Swalwell’s political future became even more precarious as reports of previous allegations emerged, including sexual misconduct involving other women. Swalwell has previously denied these allegations of sexual assault but admitted to making poor judgments.
As the situation evolves, Drewes' legal maneuvers may set a significant precedent in the ongoing discussions surrounding power dynamics and sexual violence in political settings.
