LOS ANGELES — A California woman said Tuesday she was raped by Rep. Eric Swalwell years ago, disclosing the abuse just days after Swalwell left the governor's race and announced he would resign from Congress amid other allegations.
Lonna Drewes said during a news conference that the assault occurred in 2018 at a hotel in Southern California. She said she had one glass of wine that evening and believes Swalwell drugged her before raping her. She now plans to make a report to law enforcement.
"My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt," Drewes said at the news conference, published on YouTube by USA Today. "Fear of his political power, his background as an attorney and his family law enforcement ties. I have never doubted what happened."
Swalwell dropped out of the California governor’s race on Sunday and said he would resign from Congress this week following earlier allegations of sexual assault from a different woman.
Elias Debaie, an attorney for Swalwell, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Swalwell, a seven-term lawmaker, has experienced a swift political fall after he was seen as a frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race before dropping out as the allegations surfaced.
The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, first reported allegations that Swalwell had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. CNN also reported that three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell — including sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.
Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco.
He has previously admitted on social media to "mistakes in judgment" but also claimed there was a "serious false allegation."
Last week, Swalwell denied ever having a sexual relationship with any former staffers and said the allegations made against him were politically motivated.
Drewes said Tuesday she did not undergo a rape kit but disclosed the alleged assault to people close to her and documented it in her journal. She said she discussed the alleged rape during therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut.
Attorney Lisa Bloom said those journal entries, along with text messages and photographs, will be included in the forthcoming report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Drewes said she was working as a model and owned a fashion software company based in Beverly Hills when she met Swalwell. He offered to help her with connections to further her company and knew she had an interest in local politics.
She had met him twice before the night when she says he raped her. That night, the two met at a restaurant opening and were set to attend a political event, she said. On their way to the event, Drewes said Swalwell wanted to stop back at his hotel room to get some paperwork. By the time they reached the room, she said her limbs felt heavy and she felt like she had been drugged.
Swalwell raped her and later choked her, causing her to lose consciousness, she said.
Several Democrats had called on Swalwell to step aside.
Swalwell’s planned departure will trigger a special election in his district, which he won by over 30 percentage points in 2024. In California, the governor is responsible for calling a special election, which he must do “within 14 calendar days of the occurrence of the vacancy,” according to state election law.
California's 2026 gubernatorial candidates are mired in a contentious battle to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. Swalwell was leading against Democrats, including former Rep. Katie Porter and businessman Tom Steyer, while Republican contenders Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton were running neck-and-neck, according to recent polls.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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