House candidate explains why she disclosed rape allegation

Why she spoke publicly

Bernadette Greene-Placentia said she decided to disclose her rape allegation after questioning whether she could promise to fight for voters without also speaking for sexual assault victims.

The Arizona Democrat told CBS News that the realization came while she was sharing her family’s experiences with health care. She had discussed her father dying while waiting for care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and later learning that her mother had rationed insulin.

Greene-Placentia said hundreds of women from around the world contacted her after she went public. She estimated that about 70% told her they had never reported their own experiences and thanked her for speaking openly.

What Greene-Placentia reported

Greene-Placentia said she was attacked in August while repairing campaign materials after midnight. She said she was struck on the back of the head, lost consciousness and was sexually assaulted by two men.

She said she drove home afterward and told her husband and campaign staff the next day, but initially did not want to discuss the attack publicly.

A Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office report lists the incident as occurring Aug. 14 between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Greene-Placentia reported it to authorities on Aug. 31. The sheriff’s office said it is investigating and could not comment further.

The congressional race

Greene-Placentia is the Democratic candidate in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Phoenix suburbs. Her November opponent is freshman Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh.

Greene-Placentia said her campaign staff usually installs and repairs its own signs, and that doing the work herself was a normal part of campaigning.