Lona Drews reacts during a press conference alleging that she was sexually harassed by U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) with a photo of Drews with Swalwell (R) in Beverly Hills, California on April 14, 2026.
Justin Sullivan | getty images
A new accuser of Representative Eric Swalwell tearfully alleged Tuesday that she believes the fallen Democratic lawmaker from California drugged her before strangling and raping her in a hotel room in that state in 2018.
The woman, Lona Drews, spoke at a press conference in Los Angeles, where her high-powered lawyer, Lisa BloomSaid she would file a police report detailing the allegations against Swalwell, a 2020 presidential contender who has repeatedly denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Druze told reporters, “He invited me to two public events. I knew he was married at the time and his wife was pregnant.” “He was my friend. The third time, I believe he spiked my drink. I only had one glass of wine.”
“We had to go to a political event and he (Swalwell) said he needed to get the paperwork from his hotel room,” Drews said.
Drews said of the West Hollywood incident, “When I got to his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn’t move my arms or body.”
“He raped me.”
And he strangled me, and while he was strangling me, I lost consciousness, and I thought I died,” Druze said. “I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
“We will not rest until we get justice for Lona,” Bloom said.
“I want to say something directly to Mr. Swalwell now: Your recent statement – that you are not perfect, that you are not a saint – is just slander and nonsense. Stop it. Your statement that this is all just a matter between you and your wife is ridiculous, if not for the fact that it is a slap in the face to the victims.”
Swalwell, 45, is already under criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City in connection with another alleged attack.
The congressman, who has three children with his wife, said Monday he will resign his seat in the House of Representatives representing a California district after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.
His announcement comes a day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor of the state.
A photo of Lon Drews (left) and former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California, are shown during a press conference where he described his claims about sexual misconduct by Swalwell on April 14, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | getty images
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for the errors in judgment I have made in the past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me,” Swalwell said in a statement Monday.
“However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I made,” Swalwell said.