A California woman has publicly accused former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, of drugging, raping, and choking her in 2018, adding to a series of allegations against the politician for sexual assault and misconduct. Attorney Lisa Bloom and the accuser, Lonna Drewes, held a press conference on Tuesday where Drewes detailed her harrowing experience.
Allegations of Assault and Intimidation
Drewes explained that she met Swalwell on three occasions, initially because he offered to leverage his Silicon Valley connections to support her fashion software company. The first two meetings occurred at public events, but the third encounter took a dark turn. According to Drewes, they planned to attend a political event, but Swalwell claimed he needed to retrieve paperwork from his hotel room first.
Upon arriving at the hotel room after consuming just one glass of wine, Drewes stated she felt "already incapacitated" and unable to move her arms or body, leading her to believe she had been drugged. She described the subsequent assault in emotional terms: "He raped me and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness, and I thought I died." Drewes emphasized that she did not consent to any sexual activity.
Legal Response and Previous Denials
An attorney for Eric Swalwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this new allegation. In the past, Swalwell has apologized for "mistakes in judgement" but denied all accusations of sexual assault and misconduct as "flat false" in a social media video. However, Lisa Bloom criticized these statements, calling them a "slap in the face to the victims."
Bloom and Drewes announced plans to file a police report with the Los Angeles County sheriff's office immediately after the press conference. They also expressed willingness to cooperate with Manhattan's district attorney's office, which has opened an investigation into Swalwell for similar allegations.
Delayed Reporting and Support for Other Victims
Drewes admitted she did not undergo a rape kit at the time but confided in close friends about the alleged rape. She cited fear as the reason for her delay in taking action, noting Swalwell's political power, legal background, and family ties to law enforcement. "My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt. I have never doubted what happened," she affirmed.
She also voiced solidarity with other women who have come forward, stating, "I stand with the other women who have come forward, and I will be making a report to law enforcement shortly with my attorneys." Bloom revealed that at least three other women have contacted her about Swalwell and encouraged more to speak out.
Broader Implications and Swalwell's Resignation
Bloom underscored the importance of bodily autonomy, saying, "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. No man, no matter his position of power or station in life, ever has the right to make that decision for her."
This incident follows Swalwell's decision to drop out of the California governor's race and resign from Congress amid at least four other allegations of sexual assault and several more of sexual misconduct. The case highlights ongoing issues of accountability and justice in cases involving powerful figures.
