Arizona Rep. Allegedly Raped While Fixing Campaign Sign
Democratic candidate claims sexual assault during late-night sign repair, investigation ongoing.
3 min read
A Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona has alleged she was raped while repairing a campaign sign in the middle of the night in August, an incident now under investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Rep. Abraham Hamadeh in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, told Phoenix New Times that two men attacked her shortly after 2 a.m. on August 14 as she walked across a parking lot in Sun City to repair a damaged sign.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Greene-Placentia said one man struck her in the head, causing her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she said the man was sexually assaulting her. She recalled hearing something resembling “-ic b*tch, not a very good f*ck,” though she was unsure of the exact words. She interpreted the first part as “Democratic b*tch.” A second man then approached and pushed at her leg with his foot. She said she began kicking at him, prompting him to say, “Not even worth it,” before both men left.
Aftermath and Medical Concerns
Greene-Placentia said her memories of the attack and its immediate aftermath are fragmented. She does not remember getting up from the parking lot, pulling up her clothing, closing her Jeep’s hatch, or driving home. She said she has tried to remember more but only has “tiny flashes” of the events. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that she reported the sexual assault on August 31, more than two weeks after the alleged attack, but declined to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
Decision to Speak Out
Greene-Placentia initially stayed silent due to embarrassment and a desire to forget the incident. She eventually decided to speak out because she felt she could not campaign on behalf of sexual-assault victims without sharing her own experience. Her campaign manager, Isaiah Lopez, noted she was “missing in action” for two days after the alleged attack, and her husband, Alex Placentia, said she was behaving unusually, spending much of her time in the bath and experiencing nausea.
Campaign and Personal Impact
Campaign staff noticed something was wrong when Greene-Placentia arrived at a canvassing event two days later with a severe headache. She told Lopez she had been raped and told her husband the next day. She also shared the alleged assault with a political friend and an Arizona state representative. Greene-Placentia said she was left with bruises across her body and believes she may have suffered a concussion, though she did not seek medical attention immediately after the attack. According to the police report, she told investigators she experienced vaginal bleeding for three days afterward.
Public Response and Hope for Others
A campaign spokesperson said speaking publicly about what happened has been incredibly difficult for Greene-Placentia. She chose to share her story because she knows many survivors struggle in silence. She hopes her experience will encourage other victims of sexual violence to come forward. “I need to let women know that it’s okay to talk about it,” she told the New Times.
Source: Daily Wire
