Natalie Greene, a former aide to Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., is facing federal charges for fabricating a political attack that prosecutors claim involved staged injuries and written messages. The incident, which occurred in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, was considered a hoax by authorities who uncovered evidence of planned deception.
Greene, 26, of Ocean City, made her initial court appearance on Wednesday, charged with conspiracy to spread false statements and making false statements to federal law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey stated that Greene’s co-conspirator called 911 reporting an attack by three men, which included descriptions of injuries and written messages on her body.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement found Greene in a wooded area, bound with zip ties and with lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder. The words ‘TRUMP W—-‘ and ‘FEDERAL OFFICIAL 1 IS RACIST’ were written on her body, and she reported that one of her alleged attackers had a gun. However, investigators later uncovered that Greene had paid a scarification artist to create the wounds, and recovered zip ties from her car.
Prosecutors concluded that Greene had not been attacked and instead orchestrated the incident to make political statements. After medical treatment, Greene repeated her account to law enforcement and an FBI agent, but the investigation revealed the attack was fabricated. The case highlights the potential misuse of such incidents for political purposes, raising questions about the consequences of such actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Greene was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond with additional conditions. Van Drew’s spokesperson expressed sadness over the situation and hoped Greene was receiving the care she needed.
Greene joined Van Drew’s team in 2022 as a part-time role and later became his constituent advocate, according to the New York Post. The case has sparked discussions about the motivations and implications of such fabricated incidents within the political sphere.