Maryland Senator Denies Extortion Allegations

Senator Dalia Attar of Maryland has firmly denied accusations of being involved in an extortion scheme. The allegations claim she, alongside her brother Joseph Attar and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein, sought to blackmail a former political consultant by threatening to release explicit material.

The criminal charges assert that the trio utilized hidden audio and video devices to document a sexual encounter involving the consultant and a married man, all while the consultant resided at a property owned by Finkelstein’s family.

According to prosecutors, Joseph Attar allegedly sent a message to the married man, saying he had recorded their private moments and demanded actions to ensure the video would not come to light. The ultimatum included a request for the man to not speak negatively about Dalia Attar during her campaign for the state House of Representatives.

Both Dalia Attar and the consultant are members of the Orthodox Jewish community, which adds another layer to the situation. Joseph Attar reportedly emphasized in communications that the consultant should avoid any mention of Dalia and stay out of the election, or else face the potential fallout from the video.

In a statement, Senator Attar expressed her commitment to serving the community and denied any intentional wrongdoing. She claimed the case stems from grievances of a former employee and asserted that no solid evidence has been presented to demonstrate her involvement in the alleged illegal activities.

Senator Attar faces eight charges in total, including conspiracy and extortion through interstate communications.

Finkelstein’s status has already been affected; he was suspended from his police role in 2022, as noted by Baltimore City Police Chief Richard Worley, who confirmed he has not held police powers since that time.

Attar was appointed to represent Baltimore City in January, filling a vacant seat in the state Senate.