TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A former Republican congressional aide has been charged with conspiracy and making false statements to authorities after a bizarre incident that she initially reported as a violent assault.
Natalie Greene, 26, who previously worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew, claimed that she and a friend were attacked during a nighttime hike in July. According to Greene, three assailants bound her with zip ties, assaulted her, and wrote derogatory phrases on her body.
The alleged attack prompted a swift response from law enforcement, with Greene’s friend placing a frantic 911 call to report the assault. In the call, she described how the attackers were verbally abusing Greene and mentioned political slurs.
Responding officers discovered Greene on the ground, in distress, with a shirt pulled over her head and visible injuries. They reported that derogatory phrases, including “Trump Whore,” had been scrawled on her stomach, and other inflammatory statements were also found written on her body.
However, as the investigation unfolded, authorities concluded that Greene’s account was a fabrication. Detectives discovered that Greene had visited a specialized artist to create the cuts on her body, following a specific pattern she had shared with them. Additionally, zip ties matching those described in her initial report were located in her vehicle.
Further examination revealed that Greene’s accomplice had conducted an internet search for “zip ties near me” just two days prior to the alleged incident, raising additional suspicions.
Greene made her first federal court appearance last week and is facing significant legal consequences. She could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each of the charges against her. Following the hearing, she was released on a $200,000 bond.
In response to the incident, Paxton Antonucci, a spokesperson for Van Drew, expressed condolences, emphasizing that while Greene’s association with the office has ended, they hope she receives the assistance she needs.
The charges were announced by Alina Habba, the current acting head of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey and also a former attorney for Donald Trump. Habba was appointed to her role earlier this year to sidestep a potentially contentious confirmation process. Despite a stipulated time limit for her appointment, she remains in the position amid ongoing legal challenges related to her tenure.