A former congressional staffer has been accused of faking a violent political attack that included hiring someone to slice into her body.

Natalie Greene, 26, and her co-conspirator staged the attack on a nature trail, prosecutors allege, then told police that three gunmen attacked Greene, tied her up, wrote "Trump whore" on her stomach, and cut her dozens of times.

Greene told police she was targeted because she worked for New Jersey Republican Representative Jefferson Van Drew, who was not named in the indictment but whose office confirmed her former employment.

Greene has been charged with conspiracy to falsely report a violent attack and giving false statements to law enforcement.

On July 23, Greene and her co-conspirator called 911 reporting that they were walking on a wooded trail in a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, when three men attacked them. They called Greene by name, referencing her employment with the federal official, according to the indictment.

When police responded, they found Greene's hands and feet bound with zip ties, her shirt pulled over her head, and the words "Trump whore" written across her stomach and "[federal official] is a racist" across her back, the indictment says.

There were lacerations all over her face, neck, chest and shoulder. Greene told police, both at the scene and a couple of days later, that her attacker held her down and threatened to shoot her, the indictment says.

During the investigation, police said they found Greene and her co-conspirator's stories did not match up. Police also found that Greene's co-conspirator had searched "zip ties near me" prior to the incident, and the same zip ties were found in Greene's Maserati.

Police also said they found a receipt showing that Greene had paid a body modification artist $500 to slice her body on the same day as the incident.

"We are deeply saddened by yesterday'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," a spokesperson for Rep. Van Drew's office told the BBC on Thursday.

Greene faces up to 10 years in prison and a combined $500,000 fine if convicted on both counts. She was released on a $200,000 bond.

The BBC has reached out to Greene's lawyers for comment.