Arizona Democratic congressional candidate alleges August assault and rape while repairing campaign sign
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Arizona, said she was attacked and raped while fixing a campaign sign in August and has chosen to publicize the incident to support other survivors.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a truck driver and small-business owner running as a Democrat in an Arizona congressional district that includes parts of Phoenix, said she was assaulted and raped on Aug. 14 while attempting to repair a campaign sign in a parking lot after 2 a.m. According to her account, an attacker struck her on the head, causing her to lose consciousness, and she awoke to find two men assaulting her. She recalled fighting back by kicking one of the assailants, after which both left the scene.
Greene-Placentia said she suffered bruises and possibly a concussion, and that her memory of the incident is fragmented. She initially did not report the assault, citing embarrassment, but later told her husband and campaign staff and filed a report with the Maricopa County sheriff’s office two weeks after the attack.
"I need to let women know that it’s OK to talk about it," Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times.
A campaign spokesperson said she shared her story to help other survivors feel seen and supported, emphasizing that the focus should remain on aiding victims of sexual violence.
State Representative Stephanie Simacek, a friend of Greene-Placentia, said the candidate’s disclosure was a stark reminder that such crimes can affect anyone, including public officials.
A Maricopa County sheriff’s office spokesperson declined to comment, noting the investigation is ongoing. Greene-Placentia is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Abraham Hamadeh in the upcoming election.