Maryland state senator indicted in alleged scheme involving filming critic in bed 

Federal prosecutors unsealed criminal charges against a Maryland state lawmaker Thursday, accusing her of blackmailing a political critic by secretly recording them in bed with a married man.

State Sen. Dalya Attar (D), her brother and a Baltimore police officer who assisted with her campaign each face eight counts, including extortion and conspiracy charges.

The victim is not named in court filings, but she is described as a dual Israeli-American citizen and political consultant who supported Attar’s first state delegate campaign before souring on her after a disagreement. 

“I ran for public office because of my strong belief in serving my community that I love, and I would never do anything to knowingly jeopardize my constituents’ trust in me,” Attar said in a statement. “The case centers on the allegations of my former disgruntled employee. We have yet to see any tangible evidence to support the claim that I knew of any illegal actions taken on my behalf.”

“I look forward to sharing my side of the story, and believe the truth will be the arbiter of justice. In the meantime, I will continue to serve my community with humility and honor, and look forward to being as transparent as possible,” Attar said.

Her brother and the police officer, Kalman Finkelstein, could not be reached for comment. 

The 20-page indictment accuses Attar of a multiyear plot to obtain and leverage the secret recording. The defendants and co-conspirators allegedly placed a tracker on the victim’s car and recording devices in her apartment living room and bedroom in early 2020. 

With the damaging recording in hand, Attar began an effort to extort the consultant the following year, the charging documents state. Attar allegedly sent messages indicating the person “needs to be warned” before she does more damage to her campaign.  

“I think we have a very, very easy on our end, simple way to very likely get her to just shut up and leave us alone,” Attar wrote, according to the indictment. 

Attar’s brother, Joseph, allegedly met with the romantic partner in December 2021, showed him the secret recording and told him to convince the consultant to leave the state senator alone. 

The indictment alleges that months later, the state senator became convinced the consultant was still doing damage to the campaign. So her brother allegedly threatened the consultant directly in a series of WhatsApp messages in June 2022, telling her to “leave my family alone and nothing will ever come out."  

"Put me to the test. I dare you,” the brother purportedly wrote. 

A former prosecutor, Attar was appointed to fill a state senate vacancy representing parts of Baltimore after serving six years in the lower chamber. She is the first Orthodox Jew elected to the Maryland General Assembly.