Arizona House Candidate Says Rape Allegation Sparks Hundreds of Outreach Messages
Democratic candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia disclosed a rape that occurred while she was repairing a campaign sign, saying the disclosure has prompted hundreds of women to share their own experiences.
Democratic congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia said she was assaulted in August while fixing a campaign sign and that the disclosure has led to a large number of women contacting her to recount similar experiences. She told CBS News that roughly 70% of the respondents had never reported their assaults and thanked her for speaking publicly.
Greene-Placentia, a former long-haul truck driver, is running against freshman Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh in Arizona’s 8th District, a seat rated solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report. She described the attack as occurring shortly after midnight on Aug. 14, when she was hit on the head, knocked unconscious, and assaulted by two men before fleeing the scene. She drove home afterward and believes police have video of her departure.
A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office report confirms the incident took place between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on that date, and Greene-Placentia filed a report on Aug. 31. The sheriff’s office said it is investigating but provided no further comment.
In an interview, Greene-Placentia said she decided to go public while discussing her personal story on the campaign trail, noting that she felt compelled to address the broader issue of sexual-assault victims. Her opponent, Rep. Hamadeh, described the allegation as “disturbing” and called for a thorough investigation, including review of any camera footage.
Greene-Placentia emphasized that many women blame themselves for such crimes and urged a societal shift away from that mindset.