Lonna Drewes, a woman from Southern California, publicly accused former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell of violently raping and strangling her during an encounter in 2018. Drewes delivered the grave allegations at a press conference on Tuesday, detailing an incident she claims occurred in a West Hollywood hotel room after she believes her drink was tampered with. These accusations arrive as Swalwell's political career has undergone a rapid decline, marked by his recent resignation from Congress and the suspension of his bid for the California governorship.
Drewes spoke in stark, direct terms at the press conference, stating, "He raped me, and he choked me." She further elaborated on the alleged violence, adding, "And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died." Drewes was unequivocal about the lack of consent for any sexual activity, affirming, "I did not consent to any sexual activity." She also explicitly denied any mutual engagement, stating, "I've never cheated in my life. And I would never have engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Eric Swalwell." At the time of the alleged incident, Drewes stated she was in a committed, exclusive relationship.
While no rape kit was collected immediately after the alleged assault, Drewes stated she did not remain silent. She disclosed the events to those closest to her and documented them in her personal calendar. Furthermore, Drewes indicated that the incident and its aftermath were professionally recorded. "The assault and its impact were later documented during my therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut," she said, establishing a professional record of the alleged attack and its psychological toll. Drewes described the profound and lasting psychological damage, stating, "I did not want to live anymore. I cried all the time for years." She also acknowledged that the experience led her to "self-medicated in an unhealthy way" in the years that followed, describing a "profound impact on my mental health."
According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, Drewes described encountering Swalwell on three separate occasions in 2018. She alleges that during their third meeting, her drink was tampered with, leaving her severely intoxicated after consuming only a single glass of wine. In this compromised state, she claims Swalwell brought her to his hotel room in West Hollywood, where the alleged assault took place.
Drewes announced her intention to bring the matter to law enforcement, with plans to submit a police report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. This step would formally move the allegations from the public arena into the criminal justice system for investigation.
The accusations from Drewes are the gravest and most detailed among a recent surge of allegations against Swalwell. Multiple other women have come forward in recent weeks, each describing what they characterized as a consistent pattern of predatory sexual conduct by the former congressman. Swalwell has consistently denied all of the allegations made against him.
The situation escalated further when Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna appeared on Fox News with host Jesse Watters on Monday, suggesting that Swalwell’s alleged misconduct might have extended to include a minor. Luna's comments on national television added a new and more alarming dimension to the already serious accusations.
Hours after Luna's televised remarks, Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress. This swift and striking exit occurred just one day after he had suspended his bid for the California governorship. The back-to-back collapses of his gubernatorial campaign and his congressional seat mark a stunning fall from political prominence for a figure who had spent years positioning himself as a prominent national voice within the Democratic Party. The ongoing legal process and public discourse surrounding these allegations are expected to continue.
