Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona, has publicly alleged that she was raped while repairing a campaign sign in August. Greene-Placentia stated in an interview that she decided to come forward to give a voice to other victims of sexual assault after initially hesitating to speak about the incident.
The reported incident occurred in Arizona's 8th District, located in the Phoenix suburbs, where Greene-Placentia is challenging Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh. The candidate, who previously worked as a long-haul trucker, described her campaign as a grassroots operation where she and her staff personally handle tasks such as maintaining signage at all hours.
According to a police report from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged assault took place on Aug. 14 between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., and was reported to authorities on Aug. 31. Greene-Placentia stated that she was struck on the back of the head while working on supplies after midnight and regained consciousness to find a man assaulting her, followed by a second man. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is investigating the matter but declined further comment.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh described the report as a "disturbing story" and called for a thorough investigation by authorities. He requested that law enforcement review all available camera footage from the time and location to identify and prosecute those responsible. Greene-Placentia noted that she believes police possess footage of her driving home following the incident.
For Greene-Placentia and other candidates, the event highlights safety concerns for individuals conducting grassroots campaign activities. The candidate reported that hundreds of women have contacted her since her story was published in the Phoenix New Times, with approximately 70% of those women stating they had never previously reported their own experiences of sexual assault.
The immediate next steps involve the ongoing investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The general election is scheduled for November. The sheriff’s office has not released details regarding potential suspects or the specific location of the incident. The case remains open as authorities seek to verify the details provided in the Aug. 31 report.