Arizona congressional candidate reports rape during campaign-sign errand
In short
Arizona congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia says she was knocked unconscious and raped during an overnight campaign-sign errand in Sun City on August 14. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that she filed a report on August 31 and that the investigation remained open.
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Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Arizona, says she was struck in the head, lost consciousness and was raped while out attending to campaign signs in Sun City on August 14. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Fox News that a police report was filed on August 31 and said detectives were continuing to investigate. [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Greene-Placentia, 52, is challenging Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh for Arizona's 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area. She told AP she informed her husband and campaign staff about the attack days after it happened. The Phoenix New Times first published her account, according to AP and other outlets. [ 3 , 8 , 10 ]
The accounts describe two attackers but differ in their descriptions of the second man's actions. CNN and AP reported that she told investigators two men raped her. The Guardian and NBC News described her account of one man raping her and her effort to fight off another. CNN said the incident report recorded gaps in her memory and that the exact location had not been established. [ 1 , 4 , 8 , 10 ]
Greene-Placentia told outlets she initially felt embarrassed and wanted to forget what happened. She said she decided to speak publicly because she was telling voters she would stand up for them while feeling she was not doing so for herself. She told AP she hoped her decision would encourage other women to come forward. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
A political motive has not been established by authorities, The Hill reported. Greene-Placentia initially recalled a derogatory remark that she interpreted as referring to her party, but later said she could not be certain what she heard. Fox News reported that the sheriff's office declined further comment because the investigation was ongoing. [ 3 , 6 , 10 ]
Why it matters
Greene-Placentia said she spoke publicly to encourage other sexual-assault survivors and because silence conflicted with her promise to advocate for voters. Authorities have not established a political motive, and she has said she is uncertain about words she recalls hearing during the attack.
Key facts
- Greene-Placentia says she was attacked during a campaign-sign errand in Sun City on August 14. [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
- The sheriff's office confirmed that a police report was filed on August 31 and that the investigation was ongoing. [ 6 ]
- She is the Democratic challenger to Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. [ 3 , 8 , 10 ]
- Authorities have not established whether the reported assault was politically motivated. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The attackers' identities and the exact location. CNN reports that she could not describe the men and that she and investigators had not determined the exact location.
- Whether there was a political motive. Authorities have not established one, and she has expressed uncertainty about the words she heard.