Sun City, Arizona

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh for Arizona's 8th Congressional District, says she was knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted by two men in mid-August while repairing campaign signs overnight in Sun City. She told investigators she was held down, suffered a head injury and bruising, and recalled few details about her attackers beyond one wearing black boots. She does not know if the attack was politically motivated or a crime of opportunity.

Greene-Placentia told a friend and Democratic Party official about the assault days later but did not report it to police until late August, citing shock and embarrassment. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is investigating but declined to comment. Hamadeh called the allegations disturbing and urged a thorough investigation. Greene-Placentia, a former long-haul trucker turned political candidate, said she chose to speak publicly to encourage other survivors to come forward.

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, says she was knocked unconscious and raped by two men in mid-August while repairing campaign signs overnight in Sun City. She told investigators she fought back by kicking at her attackers and sustained bruises, a head injury and other marks from being held down. She said one attacker used a profanity referencing her political party, though she does not know if the attack was politically motivated or a crime of opportunity.

Greene-Placentia, 52, a former long-haul trucker, told her husband and campaign staff soon after the attack but waited until late August to report it to police, citing shame and shock. She went public this week to encourage other survivors to come forward. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on its investigation. Hamadeh called the allegations "disturbing" and urged a thorough investigation. The race is for a reliably Republican seat in metro Phoenix.

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate challenging incumbent Rep. Abraham (Abe) Hamadeh in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, says she was raped by two unidentified men on Aug. 14 while repairing a campaign sign overnight near 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City, a Phoenix suburb. She told investigators she was struck in the back of the head and knocked unconscious, waking during the assault, and described bruising on her arms consistent with being held down, a bump on her head and other injuries. She said she tried to fight back by kicking her feet, and recalled one attacker wore black boots, had small feet, and used an expletive referencing her political party. She did not seek a hospital exam or SANE kit, later telling investigators she had taken multiple showers and washed her clothing before reporting the attack to police in late August.

Greene-Placentia, 52, a former long-haul trucker, said embarrassment, shock and fear initially kept her silent, but she decided to go public to encourage other survivors to come forward, despite worries it could overshadow her campaign's focus on affordability, Medicare, SNAP, VA funding, education, water shortages and health care. She told her husband and campaign staff within days, and confided in Arizona Democratic Party treasurer Greg Freeman before reporting to police in late August. She said she has faced both support and public skepticism about her motives, which she denies, and has not heard from investigators in several weeks. Hamadeh called for a thorough investigation, including review of camera footage. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says detectives continue working to identify the two suspects.