Washington — One other girl got here ahead with allegations towards former Rep. Eric Swalwell on Tuesday, claiming the California Democrat drugged and raped her after he supplied to assist her profession in 2018.
Swalwell introduced Sunday that he could be ending his marketing campaign for governor of California and stated Monday he deliberate to resign from Congress. He formally resigned on Tuesday. Swalwell has referred to as the prior allegations towards him “false” and prompt they had been politically motivated to harm his gubernatorial bid.
The lady, who recognized herself as Lonna Drewes on the information convention together with her attorneys in Beverly Hills, stated Swalwell had invited her to a political occasion however they ended up at his lodge room as a result of he stated he wanted to get paperwork.
“I imagine he drugged my drink. I solely had one glass of wine,” Drewes stated. “Once I arrived at his lodge room, I used to be already incapacitated, and I could not transfer my arms or my physique.”
“He raped me and he choked me,” she stated. “And whereas he was choking me, I misplaced consciousness and I believed I died.”
Drewes stated she didn’t get a rape equipment however disclosed the alleged assault to the individuals closest to her and recorded the occasions in her handwritten calendar. She stated she additionally talked concerning the alleged rape throughout her remedy periods at a sexual assault heart in Connecticut. She stated the delay in taking motion was “pushed by worry” of his political energy and background as an lawyer.
“It had a profound impression on my psychological well being,” she stated. “I self-medicated in an unhealthy method.”
Drewes stated she had met Swalwell twice earlier than the third encounter through which the alleged rape occurred and he had supplied her connections to assist together with her software program firm.
“He was my good friend,” she stated.
Drewes’ lawyer, Lisa Bloom, stated they deliberate to right away file a police report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division. Drewes prompt she got here ahead now to “stand with the opposite girls who’ve come ahead.”
Later Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division stated in an announcement that its Particular Victims Bureau was investigating a case involving a feminine grownup who reported being sexually assaulted by Swalwell in July 2018 at a enterprise in West Hollywood. As soon as an investigation is accomplished, the sheriff’s division stated it could current the case to the L.A. County District Lawyer’s Workplace for submitting consideration.
In an announcement Tuesday, Swalwell’s lawyer stated the previous congressman “categorically and unequivocally denies each allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled towards him.”
“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive —a calculated and clear political hit job designed to destroy the popularity of a person who has spent twenty years in public service,” his lawyer Sara Azari stated in an announcement. She referred to as the allegations a “ruthless and shameless try and smear” Swalwell.
A number of girls have come ahead in latest days after the San Francisco Chronicle printed an account from a former staffer who alleged the California Democrat sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. Two girls who accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, Annika Albrecht and Ally Sammarco, informed CBS Information that Swalwell allegedly despatched them unsolicited specific messages on Snapchat. A characteristic of the favored messaging app is that chats and pictures robotically disappear quickly after they’re despatched.
Swalwell’s selections relating to his political future got here as he began shedding help from Home Democratic management and key members of his celebration, together with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. He confronted an investigation by the Home Ethics Committee and an effort to expel him from the decrease chamber. The Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace additionally confirmed Sunday that it’s investigating sexual assault allegations towards Swalwell.
The accusations towards Swalwell have reverberated throughout Capitol Hill. About an hour after the Democratic congressman introduced he would step down, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas stated he could be stepping down. Gonzales was additionally at heart of a push to expel him from the Home after it was revealed he despatched sexually specific textual content messages to a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales admitted final month to the affair and ended his reelection marketing campaign underneath stress from Home GOP leaders. He formally resigned Tuesday.
