// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while repairing campaign sign
A congressional candidate in Arizona has said she was raped in a car park as she repaired campaign signs late at night in her district.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democrat, told the Phoenix New Times, external she was knocked unconscious during the alleged attack in the Phoenix suburb of Sun City on 14 August, waking up to find a man on top of her.
She said she did not initially notify police until filing a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office two weeks later.
Her Republican opponent, Abraham Hamadeh, urged authorities in a statement to "investigate these serious allegations thoroughly, including finding all possible camera footage of the time and place".
"No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community," said Hamadeh, who is running for a second term in office.
Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times she was "embarrassed" and "just wanted to forget", but felt compelled stand up for other victims.
The candidate said she often speaks on the campaign trail about fighting for Arizonans.
She told the Phoenix New Times: "I didn't feel like I could keep saying that if I weren't also fighting for women that are victims of sexual assault."
The BBC has contacted the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for comment. A sheriff's spokesman told the New York Times the investigation was ongoing.
After the attack, Greene-Placentia said she withdrew from the public for two days, staying in an apartment separate from her husband and skipping a campaign event.