Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while repairing campaign sign

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona, alleged she was the victim of a sexual assault in a car park in Sun City, a Phoenix suburb, while on 14 August repairing campaign signs. Greene-Placentia claimed she was knocked out during the incident and woke up to see two men assaulting her. She only reported the assault to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office two weeks later, explaining her delay by stating she felt embarrassed and wanted to move on.

Her Republican opponent, Abraham Hamadeh, called for a thorough investigation, urging the authorities to find any available CCTV footage of the location and time. Hamadeh stated, "No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community." Greene-Placentia acknowledged her embarrassment and desire to move forward, but she felt it was necessary to speak out for other victims.

She said she often discusses fighting for Arizonans during her campaign, emphasizing her commitment to women who are victims of sexual assault. After the attack, Greene-Placentia withdrew from public life for two days, isolating herself from her husband and skipping a campaign event. Upon resurfacing, her husband, campaign staff, and others in her circle noticed she was acting differently.

When asked about the incident, Greene-Placentia couldn't recall the details clearly and did not get a thorough examination, although she did not seek medical help immediately. She remembered the assailants as white men and noticed one of them might have made a misogynistic remark. Greene-Placentia worried that voters might see the allegations as a political ploy in her predominantly Republican district and feared they might overshadow her campaign's message on affordability.