Maryland Sen. Dalya Attar indicted in alleged extortion conspiracy involving tracking, recording devices

Luke Parker, The Baltimore Sun on Oct 30, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BALTIMORE — Federal officials allege Maryland state Sen. Dalya Attar was involved in an extortion conspiracy to silence two people from detracting from or negatively influencing her election campaigns.

The Baltimore Democrat representing District 41 was indicted on eight charges on Oct. 23, according to public court records. The conspiracy purportedly involved planting tracking and recording devices and, after obtaining footage of the unnamed victims “in bed,” threatening its release with demands.

Attar; her brother, Joseph Attar; and Baltimore Police Officer Kalman Finkelstein are the accused members of the conspiracy. Federal officials described the two victims as an ex-consultant for the senator and a person with whom she had an extramarital “romantic relationship.”

A former prosecutor elected to the House of Delegates in 2019, Attar became the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve on the Maryland State Senate in January after she was selected to fill the vacancy left by state Sen. Jill Carter.

She is competing with Del. Malcolm P. Ruff, a civil rights attorney and another Baltimore Democrat, to take the seat next term.

Court filings show, however, that the senator is in custody, as are her brother, who is a real estate developer, and Finkelstein.

“This case is based on the accusations of a mentally unstable, vindictive woman in the Baltimore Jewish community who was fired from Sen. Attar’s first campaign for cause,” Sen. Attar’s attorney Jeff Ifrah said in a statement, adding they look forward “to resolving this case before trial, but are fully prepared to fight these false charges if necessary to clear Dalya’s name.”

Representatives from the senator’s office and the Baltimore Police Department did not immediately provide a comment.

According to the indictment, Dalya Attar and her ex-consultant had a falling out shortly before the 2018 election, and federal justice officials said the consultant was “known by” Attar’s camp as being “unsupportive” of her candidacy.

Citing several WhatsApp messages, authorities say the conspiracy began in January 2020 as Attar, then a state delegate, believed the former consultant was looking to disadvantage her politically.

-----------------