By Staff Reporter |
Democratic congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia recently went public with a claim that she was raped by two men while cleaning up campaign signs.
Democratic elected officials were quick to voice their support for Greene-Placentia, but some voters and others online have expressed skepticism about her claims.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) confirmed that it is investigating a sexual assault report filed August 31 by Greene-Placentia, who first went public with the alleged attack in a Phoenix New Times article published October 7.
Greene-Placentia’s campaign told People that the attack occurred August 14 at approximately 2 a.m. while she was repairing a campaign sign. Greene-Placentia is challenging Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
An MCSO spokesperson stated that the report, number IR26022432, won’t be available until their investigation is complete. The agency has not disclosed suspects, investigative findings, or a possible motive.
“I talked with the Detectives, they advised it is still an ongoing investigation and we cannot comment on the investigation at this time,” stated the spokesperson.
According to the Phoenix New Times report, Greene-Placentia claimed to have been struck in the head and lost consciousness after entering a parking lot to repair a sign. She alleged she regained consciousness as one man was raping her and then recalled a second man approaching. Greene-Placentia’s account varies between reports on whether the second man raped her or ceased his attempt to rape her when she put up a fight.
Greene-Placentia told the outlet that she interpreted one of her attackers as saying “Democratic bitch,” though she also expressed uncertainty about the words she heard. MCSO has not attributed any motive to the attack, political or otherwise.
Greene-Placentia described gaps in her memory following the incident, including her drive home, and expressed uncertainty about the precise location of the attack, which she said was likely near 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City.
Once home, Greene-Placentia didn’t contact the police. Instead, she waited two weeks and three days to file a report.
Greene-Placentia continued her campaign activities between the attack and the day she filed the police report — including middle-of-the-night excursions to put up campaign signs.
On August 22 at about 3 a.m., about a week after the alleged rape, Greene-Placentia posted on Facebook that she was once again putting up signs at 2 a.m.
“Because whether it’s 2pm and 115 degrees while we canvass, coming off a 36 hour day to speak alongside Adrian Fontes for Arizona Secretary of State or put[ting] up signs at 2am when it’s still 105 degrees, Trucker Tough means the work never stops!” stated Greene-Placentia.
Four days before filing a police report, Greene-Placentia participated in a televised congressional candidate forum organized by Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
After filing the police report, Greene-Placentia waited five weeks to go public about the alleged attack.
Greene-Placentia’s rape claim — namely her decision to wait more than two weeks to contact police — has amassed skepticism online.
Hundreds of users across multiple platforms have expressed doubts about Greene-Placentia’s story, with many comparing Greene-Placentia’s allegation to Jussie Smollett’s fabricated 2019 attack.
Smollett was charged with felony filing of a false police report in February 2019 for staging a hate crime in which he falsely claimed masked men had insulted his homosexuality and told him it was “MAGA country.” Prosecutors decided to drop the charges about a month later.
AZ Free News has compiled a timeline from the night of the attack to the first media report on Greene-Placentia’s allegations.
Timeline from Alleged Attack to Present:
Aug. 14, approximately 2 a.m.: Greene-Placentia says she was assaulted and raped by two men while repairing a campaign sign. She identified the general Sun City area while expressing uncertainty about the precise location.
Aug. 15: Greene-Placentia joins Eva Osuna, Peoria City Council candidate, and Melissa Ewing, Peoria Unified School District Governing Board candidate, for a canvassing launch in south Peoria.
Aug. 15–16 (approximate): Greene-Placentia’s husband described speaking with her by telephone but not seeing her for roughly two days. Her landlord described seeing her appear unsteady.
Aug. 16: A volunteer drove Greene-Placentia to a Chandler canvass launch, where she disclosed the alleged assault to campaign staff. Greene-Placentia posts on her Facebook page about her frustration with the Maricopa County Democratic Party for not investing $20,000 in her campaign: “Still pissed off..”
Aug. 17: Greene-Placentia told her husband about the alleged rape and contacted Greg Freeman, secretary of the Arizona Democratic Party.
Aug. 18: Greene-Placentia attended the LD28 general meeting alongside Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in Peoria from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Aug. 22: Greene-Placentia posted on Facebook that she was putting up signs at 2 a.m. Later that day, Greene-Placentia participated in a South Peoria canvass with Raquel Terán, Melissa Ewing, Deborah Howard and Kyle Clayton, associated with Eva Osuna’s campaign.
Aug. 27: Greene-Placentia participated in the Clean Elections CD8 forum.
Aug. 30: Greene-Placentia participated in a canvass with LD29 Democrats, Melissa Ewing, and Eva Osuna.
Aug. 31: Greene-Placentia files a report of rape with MCSO; initial contact with the agency was reportedly by telephone.
Early September: Greene-Placentia reportedly told state Rep. Stephanie Simacek about the alleged assault during a coffee meeting. No exact meeting date was established.
Sept. 1: Two sergeants visited Greene-Placentia’s apartment the day after she filed her report.
Sept. 3: Greene-Placentia scheduled to appear at Grand Dems Meeting in Surprise from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Greene-Placentia hosted a live TikTok town hall with Friends with Political Benefits starting at 6 p.m.
Sept. 13: Greene-Placentia went door knocking.
Sept. 16: Greene-Placentia traveled to Washington, D.C.
Sept. 18: Greene-Placentia hosted a live TikTok town hall with Friends with Political Benefits starting at 6 p.m.
Sept. 19: Greene-Placentia appeared at the West Valley Democratic Candidate Rally in Goodyear.
Sept. 24: Greene-Placentia traveled to Washington, D.C.
Sept. 26: Greene-Placentia appeared at LD3 Democrats canvass, LD3 Candidate Expo in Anthem, a house party, and the Arizona Democratic Party Hall of Fame dinner.
Oct. 7: Phoenix New Times published Bernadette-Greene’s rape allegation.
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