Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona, says she was attacked and sexually assaulted in August while attempting to repair a campaign sign.
Greene-Placentia, the Democratic nominee in the 8th Congressional District, told The Phoenix New Times on Wednesday that she was knocked unconscious in a Sun City parking lot while repairing the damaged sign during the early-morning hours.
She said she regained consciousness with her pants partially pulled down and a man assaulting her.
According to Greene-Placentia, a second man then approached and attempted to assault her. She kicked toward him, prompting him to leave while muttering, “not even worth it.”
The long-haul trucker also said she heard the first man insult her, calling her a “bitch” and saying she was “not a very good f–k.”
Greene-Placentia, who is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, said she often repaired campaign signs at night to escape Arizona’s intense daytime heat. On some occasions, she was accompanied by her husband.
Because she was wearing a campaign shirt, Greene-Placentia said the attacker may have referred to her as a “Democratic bitch,” though she acknowledged she could not be certain. She said she remembers little after the assault, including how she returned home.
“It’s just these little tiny flashes of things that I do remember,” she told the outlet. “As much as I don’t want to remember, I’ve tried very, very hard to remember more stuff. But that’s where I’m at.”
According to the New Times, Greene-Placentia told her husband and campaign staff about the attack two days later, after isolating herself in her apartment and effectively going “missing in action.” She waited another two weeks before reporting the incident to police, saying she felt “embarrassed.”
“I just wanted to forget it,” she told the outlet.
Greene-Placentia’s campaign said the attack took place in the early hours of Aug. 14, The Guardian reported.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a report was filed Aug. 31 but declined to release additional information, citing an “ongoing investigation.”
Greene-Placentia’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
A police report reviewed by the New Times stated that Greene-Placentia experienced vaginal bleeding for three days after the alleged attack. She also told the outlet that she went through periods of “crying times and angry times.”
Greene-Placentia said she decided to speak publicly to encourage other women to report sexual violence. “I need to let women know that it’s okay to talk about it,” she said. “We’re asking people to stand up and donate or volunteer. We’re asking those folks to be uncomfortable … then I have to be willing to be uncomfortable too.”
