New Jersey Political Aide Accused of Staging Her Own ‘Trump Whore’ Attack in the Woods to Frame Political Enemies, Feds Say
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY — A former congressional aide in New Jersey is accused of staging an elaborate fake political attack on herself — a plot involving zip ties, a scarification artist, self-inflicted wounds, and slurs like “Trump whore” written across her body — all before calling 911 and blaming three armed political extremists.
According to federal investigators, 26-year-old Natalie Greene, who previously worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew, orchestrated the entire scene in the woods to appear as though she had been violently assaulted for her political ties.
What authorities say they uncovered became one of the most bizarre alleged political hoaxes in recent memory.
Found Tied, Bloodied, and Crying — But Investigators Say It Was All Fake
On July 23, Greene’s friend called 911 in a frantic tone, claiming that she and Greene had been attacked on a trail by gun-toting men who hated Greene’s political work.
When officers arrived, they found Greene lying in the woods, her hands and feet zip-tied, her shirt pulled over her head, and sharp cuts across her face, neck, and chest.
She also had political slurs written across her body:
- “TRUMP WHORE” on her stomach
- “[Van Drew] IS RACIST” on her back
Greene wept as she told officers that the men who attacked her had a gun and threatened to kill her.
But investigators say none of it was real.
Investigators: She Paid an Artist to Cut Her Face and Body in a Pattern She Designed
According to the Department of Justice, Greene actually hired a body-modification and scarification artist and paid him to carve precise wounds into her skin.
A search uncovered the same black zip ties used in the “attack” sitting in Greene’s Maserati SUV.
The cuts matched perfectly.
“The lacerations followed the exact same pattern as those observed on Greene in the woods,”
federal prosecutors wrote.
The scarification artist even provided investigators with photos of the injuries he created — photos that aligned “line for line” with what police saw that night.
Zip Ties Purchased Days Earlier — and Google Searches That Gave Her Away
Federal agents quickly discovered that Greene’s co-conspirator Googled “zip ties near me” two days before the incident.
Surveillance footage from a Dollar General store captured her buying the zip ties used to stage the attack.
Investigators also say Greene drove her Maserati to the nature reserve herself — contradicting the dramatic 911 call narrative that she’d been violently dragged into the woods.
The FBI said the story “unraveled almost immediately.”
Former Boss Responds: “We Are Deeply Saddened”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s office released a brief statement after Greene was charged:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her, and we hope she’s getting the care she needs.”
Greene no longer works for his office.
Facing Federal Charges — Now Released on Bond
Greene appeared in federal court this week, charged with:
- Conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes
- Making false statements to federal agents
She was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond.
Federal investigators say the staged assault wasted emergency resources and risked political tensions at a time when public safety concerns are already high.
No future court date has been announced.
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