Congressman Swalwell Investigated for Rape Allegation Stemming from 2018 Hotel Encounter A woman alleges Congressman Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in a West Hollywood hotel room in July 2018, a claim the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating. The investigation comes as hotel expenses for Swalwell's campaign from that period are being scrutinized, adding a new dimension to past rumors of his extramarital affairs. Swalwell denies criminal behavior but admits to indiscretions and has hired legal counsel to address the allegations. A woman named Lonna Drewes has come forward with allegations of rape against Congressman Eric Swalwell, stemming from an alleged incident in July 2018 at the Montrose West Hollywood hotel. Drewes reported the alleged assault to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which has confirmed it is investigating the claims. The department stated that the investigation is in its preliminary stages and involves gathering information, reviewing evidence, and conducting follow-up inquiries. The findings will eventually be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for a decision on potential charges. Drewes claims that Swalwell, then a congressman, lured her to his hotel room under the guise of discussing her fashion software company. She alleges that upon arrival, she was incapacitated and unable to move, and that Swalwell raped and choked her, causing her to lose consciousness. The hotel's location on Hammond Street in West Hollywood aligns with the address provided in the Sheriff's Department's statement. Federal records indicate that Swalwell’s congressional campaign incurred expenses at the Montrose West Hollywood on two occasions in July 2018, totaling $353.19 and $7.67. These campaign charges at the hotel, previously a matter of less scrutiny, are now being re-examined in light of the rape allegations. This development adds a new layer to long-standing rumors within Washington D.C. circles regarding Swalwell's alleged extramarital affairs. Beyond this specific incident, federal campaign records reveal a pattern of Swalwell utilizing campaign funds for hotel stays across various locations. In the past year alone, he made 19 charges at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park. Between 2023 and 2024, Swalwell accumulated 24 charges at San Francisco hotels, primarily the five-star 1 Hotel San Francisco and the Hotel Griffon. Furthermore, he had nine charges at The Rose Hotel in Pleasanton, a luxury boutique inn situated less than eight miles from his stated residence in Livermore. Notably, three charges at this Pleasanton hotel, totaling nearly $1,739, appear to have been reversed. During the early pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, Swalwell also logged stays at The Rose Hotel in Pleasanton, despite his purported residence within the district. Additional charges were recorded at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel and Hotel Adagio. Swalwell has publicly denied any criminal wrongdoing but has admitted to indiscretions. He has retained prominent anti-MeToo attorney Sara Azari to represent him in this matter. Azari vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as false, fabricated, and a politically motivated attempt to damage Swalwell's reputation, vowing to pursue legal remedies against those responsible for what she termed a campaign of lies. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that the Special Victims Bureau is handling the investigation