4 days, shocking allegations: Eric Swalwell’s dramatic political fall, explained
A second woman has accused Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her, the latest in a series of allegations that already led the California Democrat to resign from his congressional seat and end his campaign for governor.
Sacramento Bee reporters chronicled the rapid series of developments. Here’s a summary of what’s happened over just four days.
RELATED: Newsom sets August special election for Eric Swalwell’s congressional seat
What are the allegations against Eric Swalwell?
The accusations surfaced Friday when the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published accounts from a former member of Swalwell’s district office staff. She said the congressman, now 45, raped her in 2019 — when she was 21 — and again in 2024. Both times, she said she was too intoxicated to consent.
Three other women told CNN that Swalwell made unwanted advances, including sending unsolicited photos of his penis via Snapchat.
Then, on Tuesday, another accuser, Lonna Drewes, came forward at a news conference in Beverly Hills. Drewes said Swalwell drugged her single glass of wine before a political event in 2018, brought her to his hotel room, then choked and raped her.
“While he was choking me, I lost consciousness, and I thought I died,” said Drewes, who said she was a model and ran a fashion software company at the time.
Her attorney is Lisa Bloom, who represented high-profile plaintiffs in the #MeToo movement. Bloom said they would transmit evidence to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and request a criminal investigation. She said three other women had contacted her about possible incidents involving Swalwell.
How did Swalwell respond to the accusations?
Swalwell initially called the allegations “flat false” in a video posted to social media Friday. His attorney, Elias Dabaie, said Swalwell intended to “vindicate his rights in court.”
“The congressman takes accountability for potential lapses in judgment, but again, categorically denies any wrongdoing,” Dabaie said on CNN Friday night.
By Monday, Swalwell’s tone shifted. In a statement announcing his resignation, the Dublin Democrat said: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
Following Drewes’ accusations, Sara Azari, another attorney representing Swalwell, said in a statement that he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him,” calling them “a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service.”
Why did Swalwell resign from Congress?
Swalwell’s support collapsed within 24 hours. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on him to step aside. So did Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Alex Padilla.
Both of his campaign co-chairs — Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif. — resigned their roles and called for him to quit. Major labor unions including SEIU California and the California Labor Federation withdrew their endorsements.
More than 50 former staffers from his congressional office and 2019 presidential campaign signed a letter demanding his resignation. They wrote that the allegations are “serious, credible, and demand accountability,” adding: “No one is above the law. Not a congressman. Not a candidate for governor. No one.”
Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign Sunday and resigned from Congress Monday, citing a looming expulsion vote that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said she would introduce.
What investigations is Swalwell facing?
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced over the weekend his office was investigating the 2024 incident, which allegedly occurred in a New York City hotel room after a charity gala.
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson is investigating a 2019 incident, which reportedly took place in a hotel room after another then-staffer met Swalwell for drinks at a Pleasanton steakhouse.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Tuesday they launched an investigation into Drewes’ alleged assault in West Hollywood.
The Department of Homeland Security is separately probing whether Swalwell employed a nanny who overstayed her visa.
What does Swalwell’s exit mean for the California governor’s race?
Before the allegations, Swalwell was one of the leading candidates to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom in a field of eight Democrats and two Republicans. He had consolidated endorsements from Schiff and dozens of other Democrats in both Congress and the California Legislature. Some polls showed him leading former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer.
Internal polls from the Steyer and Porter campaigns show the two candidates are poised to siphon votes from Swalwell supporters. On Tuesday, Gov. Newsom called a June 16 primary and Aug. 18 special election to fill Swalwell’s 14th Congressional District seat.
RELATED: Swalwell’s out. Here’s what that means for the California governor’s race
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.