Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, has alleged that she was sexually assaulted while repairing a damaged campaign sign in Sun City, northwest of Phoenix.
In an interview with the Phoenix New Times, Greene-Placentia said the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. on August 14. She alleged that she was struck on the head and briefly lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she said, a man was on top of her and sexually assaulting her.
Greene-Placentia told the newspaper that the man insulted her during the alleged attack. She also said a second man approached and tried to force her legs farther apart. According to her account, she kicked at him, prompting him to respond, “Not even worth it.”
She said the men left her lying face down in the parking lot. Greene-Placentia drove herself home but recalled little of what happened afterward. Describing her difficulty remembering the incident, she told the newspaper that only brief flashes of the events had remained with her despite her efforts to recall more details.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Greene-Placentia filed a report on August 31. The office said the investigation was ongoing. The available information does not establish whether any suspects have been identified or whether arrests have been made.
Greene-Placentia said she initially felt embarrassed about the alleged assault and wanted to put the experience behind her. She later decided to speak publicly about it, explaining that supporting survivors of sexual assault is a central focus of her campaign.
Her account places an alleged act of violence during campaign activity at the centre of a public discussion about sexual assault and the experiences of survivors. However, the allegations remain subject to investigation, and no conclusion about the incident has been established in the information provided.
