In brief
Greene‑Placentia, running for Congress in Arizona, says a man assaulted her in a car park on a late‑night sign‑repair job. She filed a report with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office two weeks later. Her Republican opponent called for a thorough investigation and the release of possible camera footage. The incident has sparked concerns about voter safety and the risk of the story becoming a political stunt. The sheriff’s office says the case is still under review.
A Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona claims she was raped in a car park while repairing campaign signs late at night, according to a report in Phoenix New Times.
Greene‑Placentia said she was knocked unconscious during the alleged attack in the Phoenix suburb of Sun City on 14 August and woke to find a man on top of her.
She did not file a police report immediately; instead she waited two weeks to submit documentation to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Her Republican opponent Abraham Hamadeh urged authorities to investigate the allegations thoroughly, calling for all camera footage from the area and date to be examined.
The candidate described feeling embarrassed and wanting to forget the incident, but she said she could not remain silent because she wanted to stand up for other survivors of sexual assault.
Greene‑Placentia has long campaigned on issues such as affordability and public safety, and she said she would not continue to talk about those without also fighting for women who have been assaulted.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, but no official update has been released yet.
After the attack the candidate withdrew from public events for two days, staying in a separate apartment from her husband and skipping a campaign rally, which reportedly changed her demeanor on re‑entry.
She has expressed concerns that the allegations could be seen as a political stunt in a heavily Republican district, potentially eclipsing her platform.
