The former chief of staff to Eric Swalwell responded to the rape allegations against his former boss with a brutal rebuke about how no one is working for the congressman anymore.
Benjamin Burnett replied to a request for comment from the Hill about the swarm of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct allegations against the embattled former congressman.
“As of 2 PM (ET) today neither Cassie [Baloue] nor I work for or report to the former Congressman,” the post on X read.
“We will not be commenting on his behalf, relaying your request to him, or contact/coordinating with him in anyway.”
The message added, “He rightfully has no one working for him anymore.”
The comment came just hours after another alleged victim came forward with accusations on Tuesday of horrific claims that the married congressman drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018.
Lonna Drewes, 50, said she thought she was friends with the congressman but claimed he spiked her drink before choking and sexually assaulting her in West Hollywood.
The model sobbed as she claimed he was masquerading as helping her fashion software company take off, but ended up destroying her life and left her “crying all the time.”
She said she met Swalwell when she was working as a model in Beverly Hills and owned a fashion software company.
“After meeting, he offered me connections to further my software company, and I also had an interest in local politics.”
“He invited me to two public events. I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine.”
“We were supposed to go to a political event, and he said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room,” Drewes went on.
“When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn’t move my arms over my body. He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died.”
Drewes added, “I did not consent to any sexual activity, although I did not undergo a rape kit at the time, I disclosed the assault to the people closest to me.”
She later arrived at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday to hand over what Drewes said are damning texts, photographs and journal entries accusing Swalwell of rape.
The latest accusations came after numerous women last week leveled heinous claims against Swalwell, including one also alleging he raped her, which has set fire to his political career. He’s since pulled out of the California governor’s race and vowed to resign from congress.
Despite his resignation, Swalwell vehemently denied the allegations in a video statement.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he said in a statement on social media.
“I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
Swalwell, who was one of the top Democrats in the California gubernatorial race, suspended his campaign on Sunday before announcing he would resign from Congress on Monday.
