A Democratic congressional candidate in Arizona says she was raped by two men while trying to repair one of her campaign signs, according to a police report her campaign provided to HuffPost.

Bernadette Greene-Placentia, who is going up against incumbent MAGA Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh, said the attack occurred in a parking lot in mid-August around 2 a.m. as she was about to fix a campaign sign.

She said she blacked out after being hit in the head and woke up on the ground, partially clothed, feeling pain below her waist as a man assaulted her, according to the police report.

She recalled fighting back when a second man assaulted her immediately afterward. The man responded, “Not even worth it,” and backed off, the report added.

Greene-Placentia also believes one of the men called her a “Democratic bitch.”

She reported the attack to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office two weeks later, telling the Phoenix New Times, which first reported the story on Wednesday, that she did not want to do so initially because she was “embarrassed” and wanted to “forget it happened.”

She also told authorities she does not remember exactly what the men looked like or what they were wearing, but believes they were white.

“It’s just these little tiny flashes of things that I do remember,” Greene-Placentia told the New Times. “As much as I don’t want to remember, I’ve tried very, very hard to remember more stuff. But that’s where I’m at.”

Greene-Placentia said she took multiple showers and a bath immediately after the assault. She also did not get a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) test done and did not take pictures of the bruises on her body.

“Speaking publicly about what happened has been incredibly difficult for Bernadette. She chose to share her story because she knows many survivors struggle in silence, and she hopes that by speaking about her experience, others will know they are not alone,” Craig Beckman, her director of communications, told HuffPost.

“Bernadette is still processing the trauma of the assault, but she understands the importance of having these conversations and is open to speaking with members of the press when she feels able,” Beckman added. “She hopes the focus remains on supporting survivors and making sure people who have experienced sexual violence know they are seen, heard, and supported.”

Greene-Placentia is running to represent Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, which includes part of Phoenix and some neighboring northern suburbs. The district voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office declined HuffPost’s request for comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Read more at the Phoenix New Times.

Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.

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