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Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped and thinks it may have been a politically motivated attack
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democratic candidate in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, reported being raped in August while fixing campaign signs near Phoenix, suspecting the attack was politically motivated.
- She was assaulted by two men around 2 a.m. on August 14 in Sun City, struck from behind, and believes one attacker referred to her as a “democratic b----” during the incident.
- Greene-Placentia delayed reporting the assault until August 31, did not seek medical treatment or forensic examination, and initially kept the attack private due to embarrassment and shock.
- The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case, with no suspects publicly identified yet; political figures including Senator Ruben Gallego and Governor Katie Hobbs have condemned the attack and called for accountability.
- Greene-Placentia’s landlord described her as visibly shaken after the assault, and the candidate emphasized her decision to report the crime as part of her commitment to advocate for others.
