California Democrat Eric Swalwell has issued another response to sexual assault and rape allegations against him after Beverly Hills model Lonna Drewes alleged that an incident took place in July 2018 at the Montrose Hotel in West Hollywood. This comes as the 45-year-old congressman announced that he is resigning from Congress and dropping his bid for governor, after leading the race for weeks.
Swalwell's lawyer, Sara Azari, stated that 'regret is not rape' and that the congressman categorically denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault. However, it was reported that Swalwell's wife Brittany Watts has deleted her Instagram profile and has filed a number of legal actions against Swalwell including divorce papers.
Meanwhile, another woman, Annika Albrecht, accused Swalwell of inappropriate behavior, alleging he initiated contact under the pretense of mentorship before shifting to sexually suggestive messages on Snapchat. A third accuser has also alleged a separate assault in a New York City hotel room in 2024.
Swalwell resigned from Congress on Wednesday, and a special election is expected in August to fill his vacant seat. He is also facing a separate investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office tied to another alleged incident.
