• Fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, accuses Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her in 2018.
• Swalwell announced his resignation amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
• Swalwell had been leading the gubernatorial race before the allegations surfaced.
• The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating Swalwell's accusations.
• Swalwell denies all allegations but admitted to "mistakes in judgment."

Lonna Drewes has come forward as the fifth woman to accuse Congressman Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her during an encounter in 2018. At a press conference, Drewes described how Swalwell invited her for what she believed was a professional meeting but instead ended up at his hotel room where she felt incapacitated after drinking wine. She claimed, "He raped me and choked me... I thought I died," highlighting the severe impact on her mental health over the years, including self-medication and therapy, according to Los Angeles Times, Reuters, and CBS News.

In announcing his resignation, Swalwell cited "mistakes in judgment" but labelled the criminal allegations against him as "false" and possibly politically motivated. His political career was heavily impacted following reports detailing accusations from a former staffer who claimed she was raped by Swalwell in a hotel room, as well as allegations of nonconsensual sexual encounters from other women, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Drewes' attorney, Lisa Bloom, announced plans to file a police report and provide evidence, including text messages and journal entries, to support the allegations. Bloom emphasized that Drewes' fear of Swalwell's political power contributed to the delay in coming forward, highlighting the significant influence such figures can wield over potential victims, as noted by Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

The allegations against Swalwell have drawn considerable attention and condemnation from within the political realm, with some lawmakers calling for his expulsion from Congress. As the Manhattan District Attorney's Office initiates an investigation into the claims, Swalwell’s resignation leaves a significant void in California's gubernatorial race, which he had previously led, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.