Bernadette Greene-Placentia said two men attacked her in Sun City in August, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
SUN CITY, AZ — A Democratic candidate for Congress in Arizona says she was knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted by two men while repairing campaign signs in Sun City in August, an allegation that remains under investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Rep. Abraham Hamadeh in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, said the attack happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 14. The sheriff’s office confirmed that she filed a report Aug. 31 and that an investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not publicly announced an arrest or identified any suspects.
According to a police report obtained by Arizona news organizations, Greene-Placentia said she had gone to repair campaign signs near 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City. She told investigators that she was walking back toward her vehicle when she was struck in the head and lost consciousness. She said that when she regained awareness, a man was sexually assaulting her and another man was present.
Greene-Placentia said she fought back during the attack before the men left. She has said her memory of parts of the incident is incomplete after being struck in the head. News reports citing the police report said she suffered bruising and believed she may have had a concussion. She did not receive a medical examination immediately after the reported assault.
Greene-Placentia did not report the attack to law enforcement immediately. She told her husband and members of her campaign about what she said happened several days later and filed the sheriff’s report more than two weeks after the incident. She has said she initially wanted to put the assault behind her and was reluctant to speak publicly about it.
She later decided to discuss the allegation publicly, telling news organizations that she wanted other sexual assault survivors to know they were not alone. Her campaign said in a statement that Greene-Placentia made the decision after considering her role as a candidate who frequently speaks about advocating for Arizona residents. The campaign also asked that her privacy be respected as she processes what she said happened.
The circumstances surrounding the reported attack, including any possible motive, have not been established by investigators. Greene-Placentia has said she recalled hearing a derogatory reference to her political affiliation during the incident, although reports indicate she has also acknowledged uncertainty about parts of her memory. Authorities have not publicly said they believe the alleged assault was politically motivated.
Hamadeh, the Republican incumbent Greene-Placentia is seeking to unseat, called for authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegation and examine any available camera footage. The case has emerged publicly during the closing weeks of the campaign for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, which includes communities northwest of Phoenix.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has provided few details beyond confirming that Greene-Placentia filed a report and that the investigation is active. No suspects had been publicly identified and no charges had been announced as of Thursday. The candidate has continued campaigning while authorities investigate her account.
Author note: Last updated October 8, 2026.