A Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona has come forward with allegations of sexual assault that she says occurred while she was on the campaign trail in August.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, who is running for Congress in Arizona’s 8th District in suburban Phoenix, reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that she was attacked on the evening she went to repair a campaign sign in Sun City. According to the police report, Greene-Placentia stated she was struck in the head while walking back to her vehicle after fixing the sign.
The candidate told investigators that when she regained consciousness, she was being held down and sexually assaulted by one man, followed by a second assailant. Greene-Placentia reported that she attempted to fight back during the attack. According to the police report, she recalled one of the attackers using a politically charged expletive directed at her Democratic affiliation.
Greene-Placentia, a long-haul trucker who relocated to Arizona’s 8th District in 2017, informed her husband and campaign staff about the incident the following day. She filed an official police report with authorities two weeks after the alleged assault occurred.
In a statement released by her campaign, Greene-Placentia explained her decision to speak publicly about the incident. The campaign stated she came forward “because she knows many survivors struggle in silence, and she hopes that by speaking about her experience, others will know they are not alone.”
The candidate’s opponent in the race, Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh, responded to the allegations by calling on law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation. Hamadeh urged authorities to locate and review all available camera footage from the time and location of the alleged incident to ensure the perpetrators, if identified, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an investigation into the reported incident remains ongoing. No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not released additional details about potential suspects or evidence gathered thus far.
The case highlights the personal risks that candidates, particularly those conducting grassroots campaigns, can face while working in the field. Campaign activities such as sign placement and repair often require candidates and volunteers to work in isolated areas during evening hours.
As the investigation continues, both law enforcement and the political community await further developments in this serious matter. The sheriff’s office has not provided a timeline for when the investigation might be completed or whether any surveillance footage has been located.
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