Who Is Lonna Drewes? Fifth Woman Claims Eric Swalwell Spiked Her Drink after Restaurant Opening and Choked Her Before Sexually Assaulting Her

A fifth woman has now accused California Congressman Eric Swalwell of rape. Lonna Drewes, alongside her legal team in Beverly Hills, said that Swalwell drugged her and raped her in 2018 following the opening of a restaurant. She also alleged that the assault involved both rape and choking, saying, “While he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died.”

Allegations of sexual misconduct against Swalwell continue to surface, and even news of his expected exit from Congress has done little to slow them down. Lisa Bloom, Drewes’ lawyer, told reporters that Swalwell’s plan to resign is not about taking responsibility but an attempt to avoid being held accountable.

Addicted to Rape

“Once he steps down, the Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction to impose consequences on him,” she said. The US House Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it has launched an investigation into Swalwell.

Soon after, a second alleged victim came forward publicly in an interview with CBS that aired Tuesday morning, bringing forward more serious and troubling accusations against him.

At least five women have now accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, with allegations ranging from rape and sexual assault to sending unsolicited messages and explicit photos.

One of the accusers, Annika Albrecht, spoke to CBS on Tuesday, saying, “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.”

Albrecht also revealed that she had been invited to meet Swalwell in a hotel room, adding that it was “very clear what the connotation was.” Reflecting on it now, she said she feels fortunate she didn’t go, admitting she often thinks about “how lucky I am that I didn’t go to that hotel.”

Amid the growing controversy, Swalwell announced on Monday that he will resign from his seat in Congress after facing a wave of serious allegations.

Dirty Swalwell

The Democrat, who had already suspended his campaign for California governor a day earlier, issued an apology to his family and staff but maintained that all the claims against him are untrue. The pressure had been building since Friday, when the San Francisco Chronicle published a major report in which several women accused him of misconduct.

Over the weekend, a former staffer also told CNN that Swalwell raped her while she was drunk. She claimed that even though she tried to push him away during the incident, “He didn’t stop.”

Swalwell has denied all the allegations and says he will fight them, but over the weekend his political career appeared to unravel rapidly.

In a statement released Monday, he confirmed plans to resign from the House, though he did not specify when he would step down. “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility for the mistakes I did make,” he said.

Swalwell also pushed back against calls for immediate action, noting that there were efforts underway to force a quick expulsion vote. He argued that removing a lawmaker so soon after allegations emerge would be unfair and go against due process.

A video allegedly showing Swalwell in bed with a woman—while at least two other people appear to be present—began circulating on X on Monday.

Swalwell is married to Brittany Watts, and the couple have been together for nine years. They share three young children.