Maryland Senator Dalya Attar Indicted on Federal Extortion Conspiracy Charges

Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar has been indicted on eight federal criminal charges including conspiracy, extortion, and wire-tapping, linked to a scheme involving hidden cameras and tracking devices to secretly record and threaten political rivals. The indictment alleges that Attar, along with her brother Joseph Attar and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein, planted cameras disguised as smoke detectors and tracking devices in an apartment occupied by a former political consultant and a married man, capturing intimate footage used to silence critics. This scheme reportedly began in January 2020 and was intended to prevent the consultant from opposing Attar's political aspirations or working for her opponents. Attar, who made history as the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland Senate, has denied involvement, attributing the case to a disgruntled former employee. Baltimore Police Commissioner confirmed that Finkelstein has been suspended since 2022, and Maryland Senate leadership has pledged to uphold ethical standards as the legal process unfolds. If convicted, Attar faces a potential decades-long prison sentence, and a trial date may be set soon.