In brief
Lonna Drewes has publicly accused Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her in 2018, adding her story to a series of allegations against the former congressman, who resigned from Congress amidst these claims. Swalwell has denied all allegations, and Drewes plans to file a police report. This follows a week of similar accusations from at least four other women.
Another woman has alleged that Eric Swalwell raped her, adding to a growing list of misconduct allegations against the former Democratic lawmaker.
Speaking on Tuesday, Lonna Drewes said she had been reluctant to come forward with her allegations that Swalwell drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018 because of his political power.
Swalwell has resigned from Congress and withdrawn from California governor's race since accusations against him were reported on Friday. He denies each and every sexual misconduct allegation against him.
These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive - a calculated and transparent political hit job, his attorney Sara Azari said.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Drewes' attorney, Lisa Bloom, dismissed Swalwell's earlier public response to other women's accusations - in which he apologised to his wife while denying the allegations - as blather and spin.
Drewes said she met Swalwell in 2018 while working as a model in Beverly Hills, California. During their third meeting, Drewes alleged that Swalwell choked and raped her after she was unable to move, leading her to believe she had been drugged.
While he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity, she said.
The accusation follows claims by four other women last week, prompting a congressional ethics inquiry. Swalwell has denied an accusation that he assaulted a former staff member and has reportedly been under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The sexual misconduct allegations have ignited a discussion about accountability and consequence for abusive behavior among lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
