Arizona Candidate Reveals She Was Raped While Fixing Campaign Signs

A Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona has come forward with allegations that she was raped while repairing campaign signage late at night in the Phoenix suburb of Sun City.

Bernadette Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times that she was knocked unconscious during the incident on August 14. She reported waking up to find a man on top of her. Greene-Placentia did not immediately contact law enforcement, filing a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office approximately two weeks after the alleged attack.

Abraham Hamadeh, her Republican opponent and current officeholder, issued a statement calling for authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation. He specifically urged officials to locate any available camera footage from the area and time of the assault.

“No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community,” Hamadeh said, emphasizing the need for a thorough inquiry into the serious allegations.

Greene-Placentia explained to the Phoenix New Times that she initially felt embarrassment and wished to forget the trauma. However, she stated she felt a duty to speak out to support other victims of sexual assault.

“I didn’t feel like I could keep saying that if I weren’t also fighting for women that are victims of sexual assault,” she said, referencing her frequent campaign messaging about advocating for Arizonans.

According to the candidate, she withdrew from public life for two days following the attack, staying in a separate apartment from her husband and missing a scheduled campaign event. Upon reappearing, those close to her noticed a change in her behavior, the Phoenix New Times reported.

Greene-Placentia disclosed that she did not seek medical attention or undergo a sexual assault examination after the incident in the Eighth Congressional District. She described her memory of the event as fragmented and noted she did not get a clear view of her attackers, though she identified them as white men, according to the New York Times. She mentioned that one assailant may have made a comment linking her political affiliation with a misogynistic slur, although she expressed uncertainty about the exact wording.

The candidate acknowledged concerns about how the disclosure might be perceived by voters in a heavily Republican district, worrying it could be dismissed as a political stunt. She also feared the allegations might distract from her campaign’s focus on economic affordability.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the New York Times that the investigation is ongoing. The BBC has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for further comment.