A former congressional staffer from New Jersey has been ordered to undergo inpatient mental health treatment after she allegedly staged her own violent assault that included anti-Republican writing and scarring on her body.
Natalie Greene, who previously worked as a congressional staffer for GOP Rep. Jeff Van Drew, was charged last month with making false statements and conspiring to convey false statements and hoaxes in connection with phony political attack, according to court documents cited by NJ Advance Media.
On the night of July 23, authorities found 26-year-old Greene after receiving a 911 call from her co-conspirator, who claimed “three guys just attacked us” as they walked along a trail at the Egg Harbor Nature Reserve.
“They were like talking about politics and stuff. They were like calling her names,” she told the dispatcher, per NBC News.
Greene was zip-tied, with her shirt pulled over her head and various cuts to her face, neck, chest and shoulder areas, according to court documents. The words “TRUMP WHORE” were also written across her stomach, with another message that said Van Drew “IS RACIST” across her back.
Further investigation revealed that Greene, in reality, paid an artist specializing in in scarification to slice up her body. Prior to the attack, the phone of Greene’s alleged co-conspirator had been used to search for “zip ties near me.”
A federal judge in Camden has since ordered Greene to receive inpatient mental health treatment ahead of her trial, according to a court order obtained by NJ Advance Media. Once she completes her treatment program, she will have to return to Pretrial Services to have a monitoring bracelet reinstalled, which is required as part of her bail.
