A fifth woman came forward Tuesday to accuse former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct, following a turbulent weekend in which he resigned from Congress and suspended his campaign for governor of California.

Speaking publicly in Beverly Hills alongside attorneys Lisa Bloom and Arick Fudali, Lonna Drewes made serious allegations about an encounter she said occurred in 2018.

“He r*ped me and he choked me. While he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died. I believe he drugged my drink…I only had one glass of wine. I did not consent to any s*xual activity. He was married at the time and his wife was pregnant. He said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room. When I arrived to his hotel room I was already incapacitated, I couldn’t move my arms or my body,” the woman said.

“In 2018, while I was living and working as a model in Beverly Hills, and I also owned a fashion software company, I had contact with Eric Swalwell on three separate occasions.”

“I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink,” Lonna Drewes said.

Swalwell has denied the allegations, calling claims reported by the San Francisco Chronicle “false.”

Following earlier reports that prompted him to end his gubernatorial bid, Swalwell announced Monday that he would resign from Congress.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”

“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” he continued. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.

According to reporting from CNN and the *San Francisco Chronicle*, at least four other women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a former assistant who alleged he raped her while she was unable to give consent.

A bipartisan effort to expel Swalwell had been under consideration and may now be halted by his resignation.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) had planned to introduce a resolution to remove him from office and urged House leadership to bring it to a vote. She also called for support across party lines, alongside a separate effort led by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) targeting Rep. Tony Gonzales.

Some progressive Democrats, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, expressed support for accountability measures, while others stopped short of backing formal expulsion and instead urged Swalwell to resign.

Several allies and longtime supporters withdrew backing for his gubernatorial campaign amid the controversy, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Swalwell had already exited the 2026 race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

First elected to Congress in 2013, Swalwell previously worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and served on the Dublin, California, city council.

During his time in Congress, he was involved in efforts to impeach President Donald Trump in 2019 and later played a role in investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The *San Francisco Chronicle* reported detailed allegations, including claims that Swalwell pursued inappropriate relationships and interactions with women. The accusations first gained wider attention earlier this month after political commentator Cheyenne Hunt shared accounts from women alleging misconduct.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) announced Monday that he will resign from Congress in the coming days. The decision came just hours after U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said he would also step down.

“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office,” Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, wrote in a post on X. “It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas,” he added.

Gonzales’ announcement follows a series of personal and political challenges. About a month earlier, he suspended his re-election campaign after acknowledging an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. Party leaders and several colleagues had urged him to withdraw after he advanced to a runoff against Second Amendment activist and YouTuber Brandon Herrera.

Gonzales addressed the situation publicly during a March 4 appearance on “The Joe Pags Show.”

“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” he said after weeks of speculation. “Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.”

The former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, worked as a regional director in Gonzales’ district office and died in September 2025. Reports indicated she had previously confided in a colleague about the relationship, including sharing a text message referencing an “affair with our boss.”

Gonzales later confirmed the relationship when announcing the suspension of his campaign.

His resignation comes shortly after Swalwell’s own announcement. Swalwell has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, and there had been growing discussion in the House about potential expulsion proceedings if members involved did not step down voluntarily.

Attention is now turning to Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), who was recently convicted in a fraud case involving federal disaster relief funds. Several Republicans have indicated that efforts to expel the Florida lawmaker are underway.