Fifth Woman Comes Forward with Sexual Assault Allegations Against Congressman Eric Swalwell
In a significant development, Lonna Drewes has emerged as the fifth woman to publicly accuse California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct. Drewes, a former model and software company owner, made her allegations public during a press conference held in Beverly Hills, where she was accompanied by her attorney, Lisa Bloom.
Detailed Account of the Alleged 2018 Incident
Drewes provided a harrowing account of an incident she claims occurred in 2018. She alleges that Swalwell drugged, raped, and choked her until she lost consciousness, leaving her believing she would die. According to her testimony, she met Swalwell while living and working in Beverly Hills, where she was operating a fashion software company. She states that Swalwell offered to leverage his political connections to assist her business.
On their third meeting, they attended the opening of a restaurant and planned to proceed to a political event afterward. Drewes claims Swalwell suggested stopping at his hotel room to collect paperwork. She alleges that after consuming only one glass of wine earlier that evening, she felt incapacitated and "heavy" upon reaching the room. She maintains she did not consent to any sexual activity and was physically unable to move or resist.
Reasons for Delayed Reporting and Supporting Evidence
Drewes explained that she did not report the incident to police in 2018 due to intimidation from Swalwell's political power and his family's connections to law enforcement. However, she documented the events in a personal journal and discussed them extensively in therapy sessions. These records are now being utilized by her legal team to provide evidence to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as part of their investigation.
Previous Allegations and Political Fallout
Before Drewes came forward, four other women had already leveled serious allegations against Eric Swalwell, leading to his resignation from Congress this week and his withdrawal from the California gubernatorial race. The previous accusers include:
- A former congressional aide who accused Swalwell of raping her in a New York City hotel room in 2024, alleging she was heavily intoxicated and that he ignored her repeated pleas to stop. She also described a second incident from 2019 where she woke up naked in his hotel room with no memory of the night.
- A woman who met Swalwell via social media alleged that he touched and kissed her without consent during an in-person meeting, after which she became incapacitated and later found herself in his hotel room with memory gaps.
- Two additional women came forward alleging digital harassment, claiming Swalwell sent unsolicited explicit messages and nude photographs through platforms like Snapchat after initiating contact under the guise of professional mentorship.
Swalwell's Response and Denial
Eric Swalwell has "categorically and unequivocally" denied all allegations of sexual assault and rape through his attorney, Sara Azari. While admitting to "mistakes in judgment" regarding his personal life and resigning his congressional seat, he maintains that the criminal accusations are false. The legal proceedings and investigations into these serious allegations continue to unfold as more details emerge.
