Maryland Democrat Indicted for Role in Wild Blackmail Scheme

A general view of the Maryland flag and Maryland State House, in Annapolis, Maryland, on Friday, October 4, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar (D) was indicted on charges stemming from an alleged scheme to blackmail individuals she felt would compromise her campaign.

News of the indictments was reported Thursday by The Baltimore Sun. According to the report, they were handed down a week ago. Federal authorities alleged that Attar — the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland State Senate — was part of a plot that involved “planting tracking and recording devices” to obtain footage of two unnamed individuals in bed. Once that footage was acquired, the report continued, it would be used to extort the individuals.

In total, Attar was indicted on eight charges. Co-defendants listed in the indictments include Joseph Attar and Kalman Finkelstein. The Joseph Attar mentioned is presumed to be her brother, who works as a real estate developer. Court filings obtained by The Baltimore Sun revealed that all three were in custody at the time of writing.

Attar has been in the Maryland State Senate since occupying a vacant seat in January 2025. She’s running against State Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff to hold the seat for a full term.

Attar’s office did not respond to requests for comment from The Baltimore Sun. In a statement obtained by Fox affiliate WBBF, State Senate President Bill Ferguson’s (D) office said they had just learned about the arrest with everyone else.