Another woman has accused former Democratic California Representative Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her. Lonna Drewes shared the harrowing allegations during a press briefing in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. This latest accusation comes just one day after the disgraced politician officially resigned from Congress.
Drewes gave a prepared statement detailing a professional mentorship with the Democrat that took place in 2018. At the time, she was working as a model and operating a fashion software company. She explained that Swalwell had offered her connections to further her business and invited her to public events.
"I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend," Drewes said. She alleged that during their third outing to a political event, Swalwell drugged her.
She claimed she was unable to move after having a single glass of wine. "When I arrived at that hotel room, I was already incapacitated," Drewes said. "He raped me, and he choked me, and while he was choking me, I lost consciousness, and I thought I died."
Drewes stated that she confided in people close to her following the assault, and she recorded the incident in her personal calendar. She later shared this information with a therapist at a sexual assault center. "It had a profound impact on my mental health," Drewes said.
"I self-medicated in an unhealthy way. I did not want to live anymore," Drewes explained. "I cried all the time for years."
"I would have never engaged in a consensual encounter with Eric Swalwell," Drewes said. "I was not interested in him romantically. But I was interested in the business relations and the professional connections he offered."
Drewes was preparing to run for City Council in Beverly Hills at the time of the alleged assault. She claimed that Swalwell used his position to offer introductions to help her software firm. Her delay in coming forward was driven by fear of his extensive political power, his background as an attorney, and his family connections in law enforcement.
"I have never doubted what happened. I stand with the other women who have come forward," Drewes said. She added that she will be making an official statement with law enforcement shortly.
Swalwell suspended his California gubernatorial campaign on Sunday following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. The Democrat resigned from his House seat on Monday after issuing a public apology while denying the specific claims. "I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past," Swalwell said in his statement.
"I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me," Swalwell concluded. Representatives for his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the new allegations made by Drewes.