Dalya Attar Indicted in Alleged Wiretapping Blackmail

Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging Maryland state Sen. Dalya Attar with extortion, conspiracy and wiretapping, alleging she orchestrated a blackmail plot that secretly filmed a former political consultant in explicit situations and threatened to release the footage to silence criticism. Court documents allege Attar conspired with her brother, Joseph Attar, and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein to install hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors, track the consultant’s movements, and use WhatsApp messages — including threats to share footage with family members, local rabbis and matchmakers — to pressure the target to stay out of the 2022 election; the indictment says the target was a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen. The documents, initially filed under seal and later made public, say some messages were deleted and prosecutors say the defendants face decades in prison if convicted. Attar denies knowingly jeopardizing constituents’ trust, blames a "disgruntled employee," says she will continue serving, and the defendants are in federal custody as the case proceeds.