Greene-Placentia alleges rape in Sun City while repairing campaign signs

Greene-Placentia did not report alleged attack to police for two weeks

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate for Arizona’s eighth congressional district, publicly alleged that she was raped while repairing campaign signs late at night in a Sun City car park on August 14, according to the Phoenix New Times, which detailed her account.

Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times that she was knocked unconscious during the alleged attack and woke to find a man on top of her. She described her memory of what happened as spotty and said she did not get a good look at either of the two assailants. The New York Times reported that she described the two assailants as white men. Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times that one assailant may have made a comment about her political affiliation, together with a misogynistic slur, although she said she could not be certain.

The candidate said she did not initially notify police, filing a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office two weeks after the alleged attack. She said she did not see a doctor following the incident and did not receive a sexual assault examination.

Greene-Placentia said she felt “embarrassed” and “just wanted to forget” in the days after the alleged attack. She told the Phoenix New Times that she ultimately felt compelled to speak publicly because she often speaks on the campaign trail about fighting for Arizonans. “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.

After the alleged attack, Greene-Placentia said she withdrew from the public for two days, staying in an apartment separate from her husband and skipping a campaign event. When she emerged, her husband, campaign staff and others in her circle noticed she was acting differently, according to the Phoenix New Times.

Her Republican opponent, Abraham Hamadeh, urged authorities in a statement to “investigate these serious allegations thoroughly, including finding all possible camera footage of the time and place.” “No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community,” said Hamadeh, who is running for a second term in office.

The BBC said it had contacted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for comment. A sheriff’s spokesman told the New York Times the investigation was ongoing.

Greene-Placentia said she was concerned voters might think the allegation was a political stunt to win points in a heavily Republican district. She also expressed concern that the allegations might overshadow her campaign messaging around affordability.