Charges Consideration in Eric Swalwell Case by L.A. County Prosecutors

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s sex crimes unit is currently deliberating whether to initiate charges in the case involving former Congressman Eric Swalwell, as confirmed by a spokesperson for NBC News on Thursday.

An investigation conducted by the county sheriff’s victims’ unit was forwarded to the prosecutors on September 21. Swalwell, a Democrat, resigned from Congress in April after stepping back from the California governor’s race amidst numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, which he has publicly denied.

Former model Lonna Drewes has accused Swalwell of drugging, sexually assaulting, and choking her during a news conference in April. Her allegations prompted Los Angeles authorities to confirm a criminal investigation was underway at that time.

Swalwell’s attorney, in an email on Thursday, reiterated that he is “innocent,” asserting that “these allegations are false, and the facts will bear that out.” The attorney, Sara Azari, emphasized that the referral to the D.A. does not imply a charging decision or wrongdoing.

In August, the FBI searched Swalwell’s home in Washington, D.C., taking an electronic device related to the investigation into sexual misconduct. The FBI also stopped him at San Francisco airport, seizing both an iPhone and a MacBook Pro. Initial allegations surfaced in a San Francisco Chronicle article, which included claims from a former aide that he had sexually assaulted her on two occasions.

A subsequent CNN report corroborated similar allegations from four women, including one who shared her experience with the Chronicle. Swalwell categorically denied the accusations in a video, claiming, “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false” and vowed to defend his reputation.

Swalwell served in Congress for 13 years before his resignation, leading to a special election in June where Democrat Aisha Wahab succeeded him. A full two-year term election is set for November, featuring a rematch between Wahab and Melissa Hernandez.