1 month ago
Another female has travel guardant to impeach Eric Swalwell of intersexual assault, claiming nan California Democrat drugged and raped her successful 2018.
At a property convention successful Beverly Hills connected Tuesday, Lonna Drewes said she was moving arsenic a exemplary successful Beverly Hills, was willing successful section politics, and owned a manner package institution erstwhile she met nan now 45-year-old congressman.
Behind Drewes arsenic she said was an oversized photograph of her pinch Swalwell astatine nan 2018 opening of nan edifice Avra successful Beverly Hills.
“He invited maine to 2 nationalist events. I knew he was joined astatine nan clip and that his woman was pregnant. He was my friend. On nan 3rd occasion, I judge he drugged my drink. I only had 1 solid of wine. We were expected to spell to a governmental arena and he said he needed to get paperwork from his edifice room,” Drewes said.
“When I arrived astatine his edifice room, I was already incapacitated and I couldn’t move my arms aliases my body. He raped maine and he choked maine and while he was choking me, I mislaid consciousness and I thought I died.”
She said she “did not consent to immoderate intersexual activity”, and added: “Although I did not acquisition a rape kit astatine nan time, I disclosed nan battle to nan group closest to me. I besides recorded these events successful my handwritten almanac … nan battle and its effect were later documented during my therapy sessions astatine a intersexual battle halfway successful Connecticut.”
Drewes described nan alleged incident’s effect connected her intelligence health, saying she self-medicated “in an unhealthy way” and “cried each nan time”.
“I did not want to unrecorded immoderate more,” she said. “It was a politically unusual, aggravated clip successful Beverly Hills, and I was considering a tally for metropolis council, which placed maine successful proximity to governmental figures and events and added to nan unit to stay composed and silent.”
Drewes besides said Swalwell “spoke many times astir his expertise to make introductions successful Silicon Valley, referencing his governmental practice and power there”.
She said her hold successful taking action against Swalwell was “driven by fear, not uncertainty – fearfulness of his governmental power, his inheritance arsenic an attorney, and his family rule enforcement ties”.
Drewes plans to record a constabulary study done her lawyers Lisa Bloom and Arick Fudali pinch nan Los Angeles region sheriff’s office.
Also speaking astatine nan property conference, Bloom said 3 different women had contacted her since she announced nan property convention connected Monday but did not supply further details.
“Lonna deserves what each women deserve, autonomy complete her ain body, each infinitesimal of each hr of each time of her life. Her assemblage is hers to control, and nary man, nary matter his position of powerfulness aliases position successful life, ever has nan correct to make that determination for her,” Bloom said.
Fudali added: “Neither myself, Lisa nor Lonna attraction aliases interest ourselves pinch nan governmental affiliation of nan accused aliases really these allegations whitethorn aliases whitethorn not impact a governmental run aliases a career. This is astir overmuch much than politics, and belittling specified superior allegations is violative to Lonna and victims everywhere. This is not astir Democrat versus Republican. This is astir accountability versus silence.”
The latest allegations travel aft Swalwell announced his volition to resign from Congress pursuing aggregate accusations of intersexual battle and misconduct that hindered his bid for governor.
On Monday, Swalwell responded to increasing bipartisan calls for him to resign aliases look an expulsion vote, saying successful a statement: “I americium profoundly sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes successful judgement I’ve made successful my past.
“I will conflict nan superior mendacious allegation made against me. However, I must return work and ownership for nan mistakes I did make,” he said, adding: “Expelling anyone successful Congress without owed process, wrong days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s besides incorrect for my constituents to person maine distracted from my duties. Therefore, I scheme to resign my spot successful Congress.”
In caller days, aggregate reports person emerged of women accusing Swalwell of intersexual assault, arsenic good arsenic sending unsolicited definitive photos and messages.
The Guardian has approached Swalwell’s lawyer for comment.
