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Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) could face decades behind bars if he is convicted of rape, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told The Daily Wire on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Swalwell resigned on Tuesday afternoon following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, including two allegations of sexual assault. One stems from an alleged 2018 incident in West Hollywood, California, while other claims are reportedly under investigation in New York City by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just put it this way. Based upon an allegation that\u2019s already been made of possibly drugging, choking, and then raping a woman,\u201d Pirro said. \u201cYou\u2019re talking about decades in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pirro said her office is reviewing tips she has received since Tuesday. She posted to X<\/a>, urging \u201canyone with credible information or complaints involving similar conduct in the District of Columbia to contact my office\u2019s hotline 202-252-0809.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gotten some, but we\u2019re trying to make sense as to whether or not they involve this jurisdiction or whether they involve a crime at all,\u201d Pirro said. \u201cWe have to go through a process where we actually review that and not just count the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that while there are no other members of Congress currently on her radar, she believes the culture of exploited power dynamics on Capitol Hill appears to be going strong.<\/p>\n \u201cThe old boy network is alive and well, and it is infuriating, especially with someone like me who\u2019s been prosecuting these cases since the early \u201980s,\u201d Pirro noted.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is silence, and there is secrecy, and unfortunately, there\u2019s a failure by Congress to hold its own members accountable,\u201d she added. \u201cBut when you think about it, who has more power than someone in Congress? You know, their power is wielded on a daily basis. They make laws, they repeal laws, they amend laws. This is an incredible imbalance in the power between a perpetrator and a victim,\u201d she said. \u201cThose of us who\u2019ve been in the trenches, biting this stuff for decades, just keep thinking it gets better, but it doesn\u2019t. And this has to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n Swalwell has not been formally charged in connection with the allegations, including the 2018 California incident described at a press conference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,\u201d model\u00a0Lonna Drewes<\/a> alleged. \u201cAnd I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt. Fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties,\u201d Drewes added.<\/p>\n The Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department is investigating the allegations, CBS News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Despite his resignation from Congress and decision to exit the California governor\u2019s race, Swalwell said Monday that he \u201cwill fight the serious, false allegation made against me,\u201d prior to the second rape accuser coming forward.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n In total, five individuals have publicly accused the former congressman of misconduct, including allegations that he sent inappropriate images over Snapchat to young women,\u00a0CNN<\/a> reported.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n