This article reports on the charges against Natalie Greene, a former aide to Rep. Jeff Van Drew, accused of staging a violent political attack that left her with self-inflicted wounds and political slogans written on her body; federal prosecutors say the injuries were performed by a paid body modification artist and that Greene faces conspiracy and false-statement counts. The case unfolded after a 911 call in July 2025, an initial medical evaluation, an FBI inquiry, and an investigation that uncovered evidence contradicting Greene’s account. The story includes direct statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a response from Rep. Van Drew’s office, and it outlines potential penalties and bond conditions as she moves through the federal system.
Natalie Greene, 26, of Ocean City, made an initial court appearance on one count of conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement following the alleged incident in Egg Harbor Township over the summer. The charges are federal and carry significant penalties if she is convicted, reflecting the seriousness with which the Justice Department treats hoaxes tied to political figures. From a Republican perspective, the case demands clear accountability and a careful look at motive and method.
“Late at night on July 23, 2025, Greene’s co-conspirator called 911 and reported that she and Greene had been attacked by three men when they were out walking on a trail at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey said in a statement. “According to the co-conspirator, during the attack, the men had called Greene by name and had specifically referenced her employment with Federal Official 1, an official whose identity is known to the Government.”
“When law enforcement officers located Greene, she was lying in a wooded area just off the trail, with her hands and feet bound together with black zip ties. Greene’s shirt was pulled over her head and was also tied with a black zip tie,” the Attorney’s Office added. “Greene had numerous lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder. The words ‘TRUMP W—-’ were written on her stomach and the words ‘[Federal Official 1] IS RACIST’ were written on her back. Greene was crying and yelling that one of her alleged attackers had a gun.”
Federal prosecutors said Greene initially told responding officers that an attacker had a gun and that she had been restrained and cut, and she repeated that account during subsequent medical treatment and interviews. Yet the investigation produced evidence that undermined the claim, prompting federal prosecutors to charge her with making false statements to law enforcement. Law and order matters; false claims of political violence can distort priorities and harm genuine victims.
“After receiving medical treatment for the wounds, Greene again described her alleged attack to law enforcement officers and an FBI agent, but the “investigation revealed that Greene had not, in fact, been attacked by three men at gunpoint on July 23,” according to the Attorney’s Office.
“Instead, Greene had paid a body modification/scarification artist to deliberately cut the lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder, based on a pattern that she had provided beforehand. Law enforcement officers recovered black zip ties in Greene’s car on the night of the alleged attack, similar to the zip ties that had been used to bind Greene’s arms and feet,” it said. “Also, the investigation revealed that, two days prior to the alleged attack, the cellphone of Greene’s co-conspirator had been used to search ‘zip ties near me.’”
A Van Drew spokesperson said, “We are deeply saddened by today’s news, and while Natalie is no longer associated with the Congressman’s government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her.” “We hope she’s getting the care she needs,” the spokesperson added. Those remarks express compassion while noting Greene’s separation from the congressional office.
The Attorney’s Office outlined the potential penalties: the count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of three years of supervised release, and the count of false statements carries the same potential penalties. Greene was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond with additional conditions set by the court, as reported after her appearance. The case will proceed in federal court, where prosecutors must prove their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Greene joined Van Drew’s team in a part-time role in 2022 and later served as a constituent advocate, according to reporting. The episode has prompted scrutiny about motives, the role of political signaling in alleged attacks, and how authorities should respond when politically charged claims of violence surface. Accountability and a fair legal process are both essential as the matter moves forward.
