California Woman Alleges 2018 Rape by Congressman Eric Swalwell
A California woman has publicly accused Representative Eric Swalwell of raping her in 2018, announcing plans to file a formal report with law enforcement authorities. Lonna Drewes made the allegation during a news conference on Tuesday, stating the assault occurred at a hotel in Southern California.
Details of the Alleged Assault
Drewes described meeting Swalwell on the night of the incident after previously encountering him twice before. She said they attended a restaurant opening and were en route to a political event when Swalwell suggested stopping at his hotel room to retrieve paperwork. Upon arrival, Drewes reported feeling her limbs grow heavy and suspected she had been drugged after consuming just one glass of wine earlier that evening.
"I did not consent to any sexual activity," Drewes stated emphatically during the conference. She alleged that Swalwell proceeded to rape her and subsequently choked her, causing her to lose consciousness.
Documentation and Planned Legal Action
Although Drewes did not undergo a rape kit examination following the alleged assault, she disclosed the incident to close acquaintances and documented it extensively in her personal journal. She also discussed the trauma during therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut.
Attorney Lisa Bloom confirmed that Drewes' journal entries, along with supporting text messages and photographs, will be included in the forthcoming report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "These documents provide crucial contemporaneous evidence of what occurred," Bloom noted regarding the planned submission.
Context of Swalwell's Political Downfall
The allegation emerges amidst Swalwell's abrupt political collapse. The congressman recently withdrew from the California governor's race and announced his resignation from Congress following previous sexual misconduct accusations from other women. These earlier allegations included at least two other incidents of nonconsensual sex, along with accusations of sending inappropriate messages and nude photographs.
Swalwell has denied the prior sexual assault accusations while acknowledging unspecified errors in judgment. His attorney, Elias Debaie, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Drewes' new allegation.
Background of the Accuser
Drewes revealed she was working as a model and owned a fashion software company based in Beverly Hills when she initially met Swalwell. She said the congressman offered to assist her with business connections to advance her company, knowing she maintained an interest in local politics.
The Associated Press typically refrains from naming individuals who identify as victims of sexual assault unless they choose to come forward publicly, as Drewes has done in this instance.
Editor's Note: This report contains discussion of sexual assault. Support is available through the national sexual assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673 in the United States.
