Baltimore, Maryland – October 31, 2025 – In a stunning development that has rocked Maryland's political landscape, state Senator Dalya Attar, a rising Democratic star and the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the state's upper chamber, has been federally indicted on charges of extortion and conspiracy. The allegations, detailed in a 20-page indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, paint a picture of a calculated blackmail plot targeting a former political consultant through surreptitious recordings of an intimate encounter. Prosecutors claim the scheme, which unfolded between 2020 and 2022, was designed to neutralize potential criticism during Attar's re-election bid for her Baltimore City seat.
Attar, 35, along with her brother Joseph "Yossi" Attar, 38, and Baltimore City Police Officer Kalman Finkelstein, 42, face a total of eight counts, including conspiracy, extortion via interstate communications, aiding and abetting, illegal interception and disclosure of wire communications, and violations of the Travel Act. The trio was arrested Wednesday and appeared before a federal magistrate Thursday morning, where they were released on personal recognizance with strict conditions. Attar has been ordered to surrender her U.S. passport, is prohibited from traveling outside Maryland without court approval, and must avoid contact with the alleged victims or co-conspirators. Finkelstein, who had his police powers suspended in 2022 amid an internal investigation, was placed on administrative duty by the Baltimore Police Department following his arrest.
The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury on October 23 but kept under seal until Thursday, centers on a female political consultant described only as "Victim 1" in court documents. A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen with experience on both Democratic and Republican campaigns, the consultant had been a key ally during Attar's successful 2018 run for the Maryland House of Delegates. Their professional relationship soured dramatically after the election, leading to what prosecutors call a "significant falling out." By early 2020, Attar expressed deep paranoia in private messages, writing via WhatsApp to a co-conspirator: "She is still looking to screw me badly" two years later, and later adding, "I want her to be a nonissue in my mind." Fearing the consultant might publicly criticize her voting record or campaign decisions—particularly within Baltimore's tight-knit Orthodox Jewish community—Attar allegedly orchestrated a multi-year surveillance operation.
According to prosecutors, the plot escalated in March 2021 when the consultant began staying at an apartment owned by Finkelstein's family, ostensibly as a temporary arrangement during a personal crisis. Unbeknownst to her, Finkelstein and Joseph Attar had installed hidden recording devices disguised as smoke detectors in the unit. These devices captured hours of audio and video, including explicit footage of the consultant engaged in a sexual encounter with a married man from the community, identified as "Victim 2." The recordings were not incidental; the indictment alleges they were strategically placed to gather compromising material that could be weaponized, especially given the cultural sensitivities around marriage and matchmaking in Orthodox circles. In one chilling WhatsApp exchange, Dalya Attar reportedly messaged her brother: "She wants her daughters to get married more than she wants to screw me," highlighting the intent to exploit the footage to derail the consultant's family prospects.
The extortion phase allegedly began in earnest that spring. Joseph Attar met Victim 2 at a Baltimore shopping center in December 2021 and delivered a stark ultimatum, according to the indictment: "I have hours of footage of you in bed with [Victim 1]... Go to [Victim 1] and say leave Dalya alone... or I’ll share this video with everyone you know—every Rabbi in town, your kids, your wife, her daughters." Victim 2 complied, confronting the consultant and urging her to cease any opposition to Attar. When the consultant posted a critical Facebook update in April 2022 questioning Attar's legislative votes—a post that included a screenshot shared among the defendants—Dalya Attar responded with fury: "Looks like she wants the world to know about her and [Victim 2]." The threats persisted through Attar's 2022 re-election campaign, with the defendants allegedly monitoring the victims' communications and reminding them of the "damaging" material at their disposal.
This is not the first brush with controversy for Attar, whose meteoric rise in Maryland politics has been marked by both trailblazing achievements and whispers of internal party tensions. Born and raised in Baltimore's Orthodox Jewish enclave, Attar graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law and served as an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore City before entering the political arena. Elected to the House of Delegates in 2018 as part of a progressive slate, she quickly earned a reputation for advocating on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and Jewish community issues—drawing on her prosecutorial background to push for balanced approaches to public safety. In January 2025, following the resignation of Sen. Nathaniel Oaks amid his own federal corruption conviction, Gov. Wes Moore appointed Attar to the Senate's District 41 seat, fulfilling her long-held ambition and making history in the process. District 41, encompassing diverse Baltimore neighborhoods from Charles Village to Fells Point, has long been a Democratic stronghold, but Attar's Orthodox roots added a unique voice to Annapolis debates on education funding and hate crimes.
Yet, her tenure has not been without friction. Colleagues have occasionally chafed at her assertive style, and the indictment hints at deeper rifts: the consultant's alleged grievances reportedly stemmed from unpaid campaign debts and perceived slights during the 2018 race. Attar has positioned herself as a bridge-builder, sponsoring bills like the 2023 Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Fund expansion and co-chairing the General Assembly's Jewish Caucus. Her office boasts endorsements from labor unions and progressive groups, underscoring her appeal in a district where voter turnout hinges on grassroots mobilization.
The charges have sent shockwaves through Maryland's Democratic establishment. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) issued a measured statement late Thursday: "This is the first we have been made aware of state Senator Dalya Attar’s arrest and we don’t have any additional information to provide at this time. The Senate of Maryland holds its members to the highest ethical standards as we serve our constituents, and we will continue to do so as we learn more about the alleged facts in the indictment." Ferguson's office has not commented on potential disciplinary actions, though Maryland Senate rules allow for censure or expulsion by a two-thirds vote. The Baltimore County Democratic Party, which had backed Attar's 2022 House re-election, expressed "profound disappointment" in a brief release, vowing to review the matter ahead of the 2026 primaries.
Attar, speaking through her attorney after her release, struck a defiant tone. "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," she said in a statement. "This case centers on the allegations of my former disgruntled employee. I plan to continue to serve my community with humility and honor, and look forward to being as transparent as possible." Her lawyer, prominent Baltimore defense attorney Michael E. Kaminkow, dismissed the charges as "politically motivated overreach," promising a vigorous defense that would expose the consultant's "history of unstable behavior."
Legal experts predict a protracted battle. Each extortion count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while wiretapping violations could add another five years per count. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, relies heavily on digital evidence: WhatsApp threads, device metadata, and victim testimonies. Finkelstein's involvement as a sworn officer raises additional questions about police ethics, prompting the Baltimore Police Department to launch an internal affairs probe.
Beyond the courtroom, the scandal threatens to upend Attar's re-election calculus. With the 2026 midterms looming, District 41's primary—typically a low-turnout affair dominated by party insiders—could see challengers emerge from the shadows. Progressive activists, who once hailed Attar as a fresh face, are already circulating petitions for an ethics review, while Orthodox community leaders have remained tight-lipped, citing the case's sensitive nature. In a city grappling with violent crime and housing shortages, the indictment risks overshadowing Attar's legislative wins, such as her push for expanded tenant protections last session.
As Baltimore navigates this unfolding drama, the case serves as a stark reminder of the blurred lines between personal vendettas and public service. For Attar, once a symbol of empowerment for women in faith communities, the path forward is fraught with uncertainty. Her next court date is set for November 14, where pretrial motions will begin to shape the narrative. Until then, the senator's Capitol office stands quiet, a testament to the fragility of political ambition in the face of federal scrutiny.
