Woman Claims Rep. Eric Swalwell Drugged, Raped and Choked Her Until She Passed Out: ‘I Thought I Died’

In a poignant press conference held on Tuesday, Lonna Drewes emerged as the latest woman to allege sexual misconduct against former California Representative Eric Swalwell. Drewes accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her during an encounter in a hotel room four years ago, reigniting discussions surrounding his sudden resignation from Congress and withdrawal from the gubernatorial race in California.

The press event, attended by Drewes and prominent attorney Lisa Bloom, occurred as the fallout from allegations against Swalwell continued to grow. The accusations have now reached multiple women, raising serious concerns about the former congressman’s conduct. Swalwell, who previously denied the allegations as “serious” and “false,” made the decision to suspend his campaign for governor and ultimately resign his congressional seat.

Drewes described her meeting with Swalwell in Beverly Hills while she was working as a model and owned a fashion software firm. She claimed that, after they became acquaintances, Swalwell offered to connect her with his contacts in Silicon Valley. Drewes recounted attending several public events with the congressman before the alleged assault occurred.

On what she described as the third occasion together, Drewes claimed Swalwell drugged her drink. “I only had one glass of wine,” she explained, indicating a troubling shift in the encounter when Swalwell suggested they go to his hotel room to retrieve documents. Once there, she alleged she became incapacitated, feeling unable to move or respond.

In graphic detail, Drewes stated, “He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness, and I thought I died.” She acknowledged her awareness of Swalwell’s marital status at the time, noting his wife was pregnant, as well as her own committed relationship, asserting that the encounter was entirely non-consensual.

Despite the severity of her allegations, Drewes did not undergo a rape kit and instead revealed that she confided in close friends and documented the incident in her personal calendar. “I did not consent to any sexual activity,” she asserted firmly. The psychological impact of the alleged assault prompted her to seek therapy at a sexual assault centre in Connecticut, and she emphasised that her silence had been driven by fear rather than doubt about her experiences.

Drewes is now taking steps to file a formal report with law enforcement, expressing solidarity with other women who have shared their experiences. “I have never doubted what happened,” she stated, as she prepared to take further action in light of her accusations.

The timeline of events escalated rapidly for Swalwell following the allegations. On Sunday, April 12, he announced the suspension of his campaign for governor, where he had been perceived as a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination. In his public statement, he expressed regret for past errors in judgement while firmly asserting his intent to fight back against what he termed “false allegations.”

Swalwell’s resignation from Congress, which took effect shortly after his press conference, was framed as a necessary step to remove distractions from his work and allow his staff to continue serving their constituents effectively. He acknowledged that there had been discussions among his colleagues regarding an “immediate expulsion vote” but maintained that such action, devoid of due process, would be unjust.

With Swalwell’s campaign team and congressional office disbanded, inquiries into his alleged misconduct have now turned into a broader conversation about accountability and the experiences of women coming forward with their own narratives of abuse.

As the allegations against Swalwell continue to unfold, public interest remains high, with reflections on the impacts of power dynamics in politics and the voices of women demanding to be heard. Those impacted by sexual assault are encouraged to seek help through resources such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

In a climate where many women are reporting long-silenced experiences, it remains to be seen how this case will develop and what repercussions it may have on Swalwell’s career and the broader political landscape.