Maryland Senator Dalya Attar Indicted in Alleged Blackmail and Extortion Scheme
Federal prosecutors charge Sen. Attar, her brother and a Baltimore officer over secretly recorded video used to silence a former consultant
Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar has been indicted on eight federal counts including conspiracy, extortion via interstate communications, wire-tapping and aiding and abetting, according to a document unsealed on Thursday.
The charges allege that between January 2020 and July 2022, Attar, her brother Joseph “Yossi” Attar, and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein conspired to secretly record a former political consultant engaging in a private encounter with a married man and then used the footage as leverage to silence the consultant’s criticism of Attar’s campaign.
The indictment states that hidden cameras, disguised as smoke detectors, were installed in an apartment owned by the Finkelstein family where the recording took place.
Prosecutors allege that the group threatened to share the video with “every Rabbi in town,” matchmakers in Israel, members of the consultant’s community and family in order to prevent adverse commentary during Attar’s 2022 delegate race.
The scheme reportedly involved tracking devices on the consultant’s vehicle and repeated WhatsApp messages coordinating the intimidation effort.
Attar affirmed in a statement that the case centres on “the allegations of my former disgruntled employee” and asserted she has “yet to see any tangible evidence” that she knew of any illegal actions.
She pledged to remain transparent and expressed her intent to continue serving her community.
Attar was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018 and appointed to the State Senate in January 2025; she is also noted as the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland Senate.
The indictment identifies the Baltimore police officer as suspended from duty and states the trio were released by a federal magistrate judge under travel restrictions and surrender of passports.
As the case progresses, key issues will include the admissibility of the evidence gathered, the credibility of the alleged victim and coordinating witness messages, and the potential impact on Maryland’s political landscape as Attar is set to run for a full term.
The charges allege that between January 2020 and July 2022, Attar, her brother Joseph “Yossi” Attar, and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein conspired to secretly record a former political consultant engaging in a private encounter with a married man and then used the footage as leverage to silence the consultant’s criticism of Attar’s campaign.
The indictment states that hidden cameras, disguised as smoke detectors, were installed in an apartment owned by the Finkelstein family where the recording took place.
Prosecutors allege that the group threatened to share the video with “every Rabbi in town,” matchmakers in Israel, members of the consultant’s community and family in order to prevent adverse commentary during Attar’s 2022 delegate race.
The scheme reportedly involved tracking devices on the consultant’s vehicle and repeated WhatsApp messages coordinating the intimidation effort.
Attar affirmed in a statement that the case centres on “the allegations of my former disgruntled employee” and asserted she has “yet to see any tangible evidence” that she knew of any illegal actions.
She pledged to remain transparent and expressed her intent to continue serving her community.
Attar was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018 and appointed to the State Senate in January 2025; she is also noted as the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland Senate.
The indictment identifies the Baltimore police officer as suspended from duty and states the trio were released by a federal magistrate judge under travel restrictions and surrender of passports.
As the case progresses, key issues will include the admissibility of the evidence gathered, the credibility of the alleged victim and coordinating witness messages, and the potential impact on Maryland’s political landscape as Attar is set to run for a full term.
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