Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, says she was sexually assaulted in Sun City while checking campaign signs in the early hours of Aug. 14. She reported the attack to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office about two weeks later, saying fear, embarrassment and trauma kept her from contacting authorities sooner. Greene-Placentia told investigators she was near 99th Avenue and Bell Road between 2 and 3 a.m. when someone struck her in the back of the head. She said she lost consciousness and later awoke during an assault by two men she did not know. She reported injuries to her head and arm. She told investigators she informed her husband two or three days afterward, but initially hoped to put the experience behind her. “I had no plans of coming forward,” she said. Greene-Placentia said she showered several times, washed the clothes she had worn and did not receive a sexual-assault forensic exam before reporting the attack. In retrospect, she said, she wishes she had called police immediately. At the time, she said, she was focused on getting through the situation rather than weighing what steps to take. She said she is speaking publicly in hopes her experience may help others, while acknowledging that the attention has brought scrutiny and questions about whether the disclosure is tied to her campaign. “No woman would come forward, especially in the public eye, and voluntarily want this kind of scrutiny,” she said. Greene-Placentia said she wants her campaign to focus on issues including Medicare, food assistance, veterans’ funding, education, water shortages and health care. She is challenging Republican incumbent Abraham “Abe” Hamadeh, who issued a statement Wednesday calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of any suspects. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said detectives are continuing efforts to identify suspects. Greene-Placentia said she has not heard from investigators personally for several weeks. No suspects have been identified in the information provided. Greene-Placentia also said that doubts and judgment from some people in the community show why survivors may fear reporting sexual assault or speaking publicly about it. She described the added strain of being questioned after an assault as painful.