Another woman accuses Swalwell of rape, saying he drugged her in 2018

A new accuser has come forward to allege that former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018, adding to a cascading series of misconduct claims that have already prompted his resignation from Congress and the California gubernatorial race. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Lonna Drewes said she had remained silent for years due to Swalwell's "political power". Drewes, who met the lawmaker while working as a model in Beverly Hills when his wife was pregnant, said she initially considered him a friend. During their third meeting, she accompanied him to his hotel room under the premise that he had forgotten something. She stated she had only consumed one glass of wine but found herself unable to move upon arriving, leading her to believe she had been drugged. "While he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died," she said. "I did not consent to any sexual activity." Swalwell has vehemently denied "each and every" sexual misconduct allegation against him. His attorney, Sara Azari, fired back at the growing list of accusers in a statement. "These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive - a calculated and transparent political hit job," Azari said. "The timing, nature, and coordinated rollout of these vile and heinous allegations speak for themselves. This is neither about justice, nor the truth," At Tuesday's press conference, Drewes' attorney, Lisa Bloom, dismissed Swalwell's prior public response—in which he apologized to his wife while denying the claims—as "blather and spin". Bloom noted that she intends to file a police report regarding the 2018 incident with the Los Angeles Police Department and revealed that three additional women have contacted her with allegations against the former congressman. Drewes' accusation follows claims made by four other women last week, ranging from sexual harassment to rape, which triggered a congressional ethics inquiry. Two of those women, Annika Albrecht and Ally Sammarco, who previously accused Swalwell of sending unwanted explicit photos, expressed a sense of vindication following his downfall. Albrecht said Swalwell initiated contact under the guise of mentorship during a college trip before sending "sexually inappropriate" messages on Snapchat and inviting her to a hotel room. Sammarco, who alleged Swalwell "acted with total impunity", stated, "For me, justice won't be until he can't ever harm a woman ever again, and he has faced the consequences for the women that he has harmed," Reflecting on his resignation, Sammarco told CBS News, "He was pushed into a corner, essentially, because they were planning to expel him … so I think he [resigned] to save face a little," adding, "But I also felt very vindicated that he realised it was over for him." Albrecht noted of Swalwell, "He never thought that the consequences of his actions would follow him," The allegations were brought to widespread public attention by Democratic influencer Cheyenne Hunt, who told CBS that more than 30 women have contacted her with misconduct claims since her initial video. Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is actively investigating Swalwell over separate allegations from a former staff member who said she woke up naked in his hotel bed in 2019 with fuzzy memories of the night before. The scandal has created a MeToo moment on Capitol Hill, overshadowing the return of lawmakers from recess on Tuesday. Both Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales—who dropped his re-election bid after admitting to an affair with an aide—officially resigned on Tuesday afternoon as the House Ethics Committee prepared to take up inquiries into both men. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters he was glad to see the resignations, emphasizing that lawmakers must remain "vigilant" against sexual misconduct. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna also stated she would provide information to the FBI regarding the matter.