Beverly Hills model accuses Swalwell of drugging and raping her in 2018
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Another woman came forward Tuesday to describe rape allegations against Rep.Eric Swalwell, who announced his resignation from Congress on Monday amid a torrent of sexual misconduct accusations.Lonna Drewes said at a news conference called by her attorneys that she was drugged and raped by Swalwell (D-Dublin) in 2018 while she was working as a model in Beverly Hills.Drewes said she met Swalwell three times as she was growing her fashion software company and toying with the idea of a political career.
On the third occasion, she said, she believed he drugged her glass of wine.She said they were supposed to go to a political event and they stopped by his hotel room to retrieve some paperwork.
She said she found herself incapacitated despite having had only one drink.“He raped me and he choked me and while he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died,” she said.“I did not consent to any sexual activity.”Swalwell’s attorney Elias Dabaie did not immediately respond to a call or email requesting comment.
Swalwell has previously denied allegations against him, while acknowledging undefined “mistakes.” Swalwell and his team threatened legal action against several individuals over the claims, Dabaie previously confirmed to The Times.Drewes said she didn’t undergo a rape kit test, but disclosed the assault to people close to her and described it in her calendar.She did not have contact with Swalwell again, one of her attorneys said.Drewes said she had no interest in Swalwell romantically and was drawn to his friendship, she said, in part because he touted connections that she believed could help her grow her businesses.
She was in a relationship at the time, and he had a pregnant wife, she said.The alleged rape had a severe impact on her mental health, causing her to self-medicate, she said.She said she also went to therapy sessions at a sexual assault cent...