In a dramatic turn of events on April 14, 2026, California Congressman Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress and withdrew from the race for California governor amid a flood of sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women. Among those who have publicly come forward are Lonna Drewes, Annika Albrecht, and Ally Sammarco. The women, who connected with Swalwell in different professional or political contexts, allege patterns of inappropriate advances ranging from unsolicited explicit messages to violent assault. Swalwell has denied the most serious claims, calling some allegations “flat false” and attributing others to “mistakes,” while insisting the accusations are politically motivated.
Lonna Drewes, a former model and software company owner from Beverly Hills, became the latest and most serious accuser on April 14. At a Beverly Hills press conference with attorney Lisa Bloom, Drewes tearfully described an alleged 2018 incident in a West Hollywood hotel. She said she had met Swalwell socially three times that year through mutual friends. He had offered professional connections for her business and even discussed her interest in running for Beverly Hills City Council. On the third encounter, Drewes claims Swalwell invited her to his hotel room under the pretense of retrieving paperwork before a public event. She alleges he spiked her drink, rendering her incapacitated. “He raped me, and he choked me,” she said. “And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died.” Drewes emphasized she “did not consent to any sexual activity.” Traumatized, she did not report it immediately due to fear of his political power, legal background, and family ties to law enforcement. She documented the incident privately and is now filing a report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Bloom stated they will cooperate fully with law enforcement.
Annika Albrecht publicly identified herself for the first time in a CBS News interview on April 14. Albrecht met Swalwell as a college student during a class trip where he spoke to students about political issues. He later added her to a group chat and contacted her individually on Snapchat, initially under the guise of professional mentorship. Albrecht says the messages quickly turned flirty and sexually inappropriate despite her platonic responses. He allegedly invited her to a hotel room with clear sexual connotations. “I keep thinking about how lucky I am that I didn’t go to that hotel,” she told CBS. She immediately stopped responding. Albrecht said she came forward because she felt physically sick at the idea of Swalwell potentially becoming governor. “For me, justice won’t be until he can’t ever harm a woman ever again, and he has faced the consequences for the women that he has harmed.”
Ally Sammarco, a Democratic social media creator and strategist, first detailed her allegations in a CNN report days earlier. In 2021, at age 24 while working on a campaign for former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Sammarco messaged Swalwell on Twitter about their shared experience of growing up in Republican families. He responded, and their communication moved to texting and Snapchat. She claims the congressman sent her unsolicited explicit photos, including images of his penis. Sammarco joined Albrecht and influencer Cheyenne Hunt (who helped amplify the stories) for the CBS interview, saying she felt “vindicated” by Swalwell’s resignation. “I think we just prevented another 30 to 40 years, potentially, of him harming people,” she stated, denying any coordinated political attack.
The three women, along with at least one other unnamed accuser and reports of dozens more contacting influencers, described interactions that began professionally but allegedly escalated into harassment or assault. Albrecht and Sammarco both stressed they were not part of any partisan plot and felt empowered to speak now as Swalwell’s political future unraveled. As investigations continue—including one by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office—their accounts have contributed to bipartisan pressure that ultimately led Swalwell to step aside. Whether the allegations result in further legal action remains to be seen, but the women say their goal is accountability to protect others.
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Woman says Eric Swalwell drugged, raped and choked her: ‘I thought I died’
Eric Swalwell accuser speaks out for first time, reveals moment that shook her to her core
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