New accuser says Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2018

Lonna Drewes alleges Democratic congressman drugged and raped her at Beverly Hills hotel

Another woman has come forward to accuse the California Democrat Eric Swalwell of sexual assault, claiming he drugged and raped her in 2018.

At a press conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Lonna Drewes said she was working as a model in Beverly Hills, was interested in local politics, and owned a fashion software company when she met the now 45-year-old congressman.

Behind Drewes as she spoke was an oversized photo of her with Swalwell at the 2018 opening of the restaurant Avra in Beverly Hills.

“He invited me to two public events. I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine. We were supposed to go to a political event and he said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room,” Drewes said.

“When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated and I couldn’t move my arms or my body. He raped me and he choked me and while he was choking me, I lost consciousness and I thought I died.”

She said she “did not consent to any sexual activity”, and added: “Although I did not undergo a rape kit at the time, I disclosed the assault to the people closest to me. I also recorded these events in my handwritten calendar,” Drewes said, adding: “The assault and its impact were later documented during my therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut.”

Drewes described the alleged incident’s impact on her mental health, saying she self-medicated “in an unhealthy way” and “cried all the time”.

“I did not want to live any more,” she said. “It was a politically unusual, intense time in Beverly Hills, and I was considering a run for city council, which placed me in proximity to political figures and events and added to the pressure to remain composed and silent.”

Drewes also said Swalwell “spoke repeatedly about his ability to make introductions in Silicon Valley, referencing his political representation and influence there”.

She said her delay in taking action against Swalwell was “driven by fear, not doubt – fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties”.

Drewes plans to file a police report through her lawyers Lisa Bloom and Arick Fudali with the Los Angeles county sheriff’s office.

Also speaking at the press conference, Bloom said three other women had contacted her since she announced the press conference on Monday but did not provide additional details.

“Lonna deserves what all women deserve, autonomy over her own body, every minute of every hour of every day of her life. Her body is hers to control, and no man, no matter his position of power or station in life, ever has the right to make that decision for her,” Bloom said.

Fudali added: “Neither myself, Lisa nor Lonna care or concern ourselves with the political affiliation of the accused or how these allegations may or may not affect a political campaign or a career. This is about much more than politics, and belittling such serious allegations is offensive to Lonna and victims everywhere. This is not about Democrat versus Republican. This is about accountability versus silence.”

The latest allegations come after Swalwell announced his intention to resign from Congress following multiple accusations of sexual assault and misconduct that hindered his bid for governor.

On Monday, Swalwell responded to growing bipartisan calls for him to resign or face an expulsion vote, saying in a statement: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.

“I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he said, adding: “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

In recent days, multiple reports have emerged of women accusing Swalwell of sexual assault, as well as sending unsolicited explicit photos and messages.

The Guardian has approached Swalwell’s lawyer for comment.

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