Another woman has alleged that Eric Swalwell raped her, adding to a growing list of misconduct allegations against the former Democratic lawmaker.
Speaking on Tuesday, Lonna Drewes said she had been reluctant to come forward with her allegations that Swalwell drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018 because of his political power.
Swalwell has resigned from Congress and withdrawn from California governor's race since accusations against him were reported on Friday. He denies each and every sexual misconduct allegation against him.
These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive - a calculated and transparent political hit job, his attorney Sara 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, Azari said in a statement.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Drewes' attorney, Lisa Bloom, dismissed Swalwell's earlier public response to other women's accusations - in which he apologized to his wife while denying the allegations - as blather and spin.
Drewes said she met Swalwell in 2018 while working as a model in Beverly Hills, California. She said Swalwell's wife was pregnant at the time, and that she initially considered the congressman her friend.
During their third meeting, Drewes stated that Swalwell told her he needed to go back to his hotel room for something he forgot, where she alleged he choked and raped her. She had had one glass of wine but was unable to move by the time she arrived at the room, 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.
Drewes said she did not undergo a sexual assault exam at the time but told her close friends about the incident.
Bloom, her attorney, said she planned to file a police report with the Los Angeles Police Department on the alleged assault.
The accusation follows claims by four other women last week, who accused the congressman of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, prompting a congressional ethics inquiry.
Two other women who accused Swalwell of sending unwanted explicit photos also spoke to the BBC's US partner CBS News this week, saying they were grateful he was facing consequences now.
Annika Albrecht and Ally Sammarco, the accusers, described their experiences and called for accountability. Albrecht 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.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating Swalwell over allegations from an unnamed former staff member who claimed he assaulted women in California and New York.
As Congress returns from recess, the sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell have sparked important conversations about accountability in politics, prompting a wider examination of such issues within the Capitol.
