The nation’s capital lapsed into chaos on Monday after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced he would resign from Congress following multiple credible allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting responses from lawmakers in both parties
The nation’s capital lapsed into chaos on Monday after Rep
The nation’s capital lapsed into chaos on Monday after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced he would resign from Congress following multiple credible allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting responses from lawmakers in both parties.
Swalwell, a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, made the announcement in a written statement in which he apologized for what he described as “mistakes in judgment” while disputing some of the more serious claims, including an allegation by a former staff member accusing him of rape, the New York Post reported.
The situation quickly escalated following the announcement. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) criticized Swalwell in a series of posts on X, indicating she believes further developments could follow his resignation. “However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion because there absolutely were,” Luna wrote in one post.
She added, ominously: “He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail.”
The Florida firebrand hinted at more damaging information about Swalwell’s conduct that will be made public. In a follow-up post, Luna cautioned her followers to prepare for what is coming the next day: “I am being told there will be more disgusting stuff coming out,” she wrote.
Advertisement That post was followed by a press conference in Beverly Hills by former model
That post was followed by a press conference in Beverly Hills by former model Lonna Drewes, who leveled jaw-dropping allegations against Swalwell, claiming they 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 vehemently denied the sexual assault allegations published by the San Francisco Chronicle, calling them “false.”
Following several shocking revelations last Friday that compelled him to withdraw his candidacy for California’s
Following several shocking revelations last Friday that compelled him to withdraw his candidacy for California’s next governor, Swalwell declared on Monday that he would resign from his congressional seat. Also, district attorneys in California and New York have opened investigations into the allegations. If charges were ultimately brought and proven, the alleged offenses could carry significant prison sentences under state law in both states.
“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 reports from CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle, at least four women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a former assistant who claimed he raped her when she was drunk and unable to give consent.
Luna said on Tuesday she intended to propose a resolution to remove Swalwell from office by force. She urged the GOP leadership in the House to vote on the proposal on Wednesday.
