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By Hollie Silverman and Amanda Castro
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A Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona says she was sexually assaulted while repairing campaign signs during the overnight hours of her campaign, prompting an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic nominee seeking to unseat Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, told the Phoenix New Times she was attacked in August after stopping to repair a damaged campaign sign in Sun City.
According to Greene-Placentia, she was walking through a dark parking lot shortly after 2 a.m. when she was struck in the head and lost consciousness. She said she later regained awareness to find a man sexually assaulting her. The candidate told the outlet that her memories of the encounter remain fragmented and incomplete, which she believes may be linked to a concussion suffered during the attack.
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Greene-Placentia reported the alleged assault to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office more than two weeks later. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told Newsweek on Wednesday that the report was filed on August 31 but declined further comment, citing an ongoing investigation. The office also said it could not release the report.
Newsweek reached out to the Greene-Placentia campaign for comment.
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Arizona Congressional Candidate Says She Was Attacked While Campaigning
Greene-Placentia said making late-night trips to repair campaign signs had become a regular part of her campaign.
Running in a sprawling district that covers parts of the northwest Phoenix metropolitan area, she often maintained signs after midnight to avoid extreme summer heat and heavy daytime traffic.
In her account to the Phoenix New Times, the routine changed dramatically when she was attacked while approaching a damaged sign.
She recalled waking up disoriented and injured, then later struggling to piece together how she returned home. She told the outlet that she remembers only brief flashes from the incident and its aftermath, leaving significant gaps in her recollection of that night.
Who Is Bernadette Greene-Placentia?
Greene-Placentia is a truck driver and political operative who moved into Arizona's 8th Congressional District with her husband in 2017.
She is seeking to represent the district, a heavily Republican seat encompassing communities including Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, north Glendale and Anthem.
Her campaign has focused on issues affecting Arizona residents while challenging Hamadeh in a district where Republicans have historically held a significant electoral advantage.
Why Greene-Placentia Waited to Report the Alleged Assault
The congressional candidate said she initially chose not to report the assault because she felt "embarrassed" and wanted to put the experience behind her. She also said she did not immediately seek medical treatment, despite later believing she may have suffered a concussion and observing bruises across her body in the days that followed.
Her decision changed after conversations with members of her campaign team and family. Greene-Placentia said she concluded that remaining silent conflicted with her public advocacy on behalf of Arizona residents and survivors of violence.
She reported the alleged assault to authorities roughly two weeks later and has since spoken publicly about the experience, saying she hopes other survivors feel more comfortable coming forward.
Campaign Staff and Family Describe the Aftermath
Those close to Greene-Placentia said they sensed something was wrong in the days immediately following the alleged assault.
Her husband, Alex Placentia, told the Phoenix New Times that her behavior seemed out of character during phone calls after the incident. Campaign manager Isaiah Lopez similarly said it was unusual for the candidate to be largely out of contact during a period when they normally communicated frequently.
The concerns grew when Greene-Placentia appeared at a campaign canvassing event days later. Lopez and communications director Craig Beckman told the outlet that she appeared distressed and physically unwell.
According to their accounts, she then disclosed that she believed she had been sexually assaulted while fixing campaign signs.
Friends, campaign staff and acquaintances interviewed by the publication also described her appearing shaken and emotionally overwhelmed in the aftermath.
Investigation Remains Ongoing as Candidate Continues Campaign
Greene-Placentia said the attack left her cycling through anger, grief and frustration in the weeks that followed. She described struggling with the emotional impact while simultaneously maintaining a congressional campaign.
Her husband and campaign colleagues likewise recounted periods when she appeared deeply upset as she processed what she said had happened.
Despite the experience, Greene-Placentia has continued her bid for Congress against Hamadeh.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.
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