LA County DA reviews potential charges against former Rep. Eric Swalwell
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing a criminal case against former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell to determine whether charges will be filed for alleged drugging, rape and choking of Beverly Hills resident Lonna Drewes during a July 2018 encounter in a West Hollywood hotel room.
The allegations first entered the public record in April 2026 when Drewes accused Swalwell of administering a sedative, sexually assaulting her and choking her during the encounter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau has been handling the investigation, and officials say the case remains in its early stages as of Oct. 16, 2026.
Swalwell resigned from Congress in April 2026 after a series of sexual‑misconduct accusations surfaced and subsequently withdrew from a bid for the California governorship. He has publicly denied the allegations.
In August 2026, federal investigators reportedly executed a search warrant at San Francisco International Airport, seizing Swalwell’s electronic devices, including his cell phone, under federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 242. The warrant was tied to a broader federal probe into alleged sexual misconduct, though no federal charges have been announced.
The current Los Angeles County case focuses specifically on the 2018 incident involving Drewes. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether they intend to bring charges, and no official statement on potential indictments has been released.
Swalwell’s legal troubles are part of a wider pattern of accusations. Earlier reports linked him to an alleged relationship with a Chinese intelligence operative known as Fang Fang, and multiple women have claimed sexual assault or harassment by Swalwell in separate incidents reported by various media outlets.
Legal analysts note that if charges are pursued, they could include multiple counts of sexual assault and related offenses, which carry substantial prison sentences upon conviction. The outcome of the LA County review will likely shape any further federal actions.
The district attorney’s office has indicated that a decision on filing charges could come in the coming weeks, though no timeline has been confirmed. The investigation continues as both local and federal authorities examine the allegations against the former congressman.
