Baltimore City State Senator Dalya Attar has been indicted and arrested on federal charges of extortion and conspiracy, marking a significant legal development. Attar, representing District 41 and the first Orthodox Jewish woman in the Maryland Senate, allegedly conspired with her brother Joseph Attar and Baltimore Police officer Kalman Finkelstein to blackmail a political consultant in 2020. The scheme involved covertly tracking the consultant, filming her in bed with a married man, and threatening to release the videos unless she ceased political activities against Attar. The indictment claims that the group discussed the blackmail as a way to silence the consultant from criticizing Attar’s voting record within the Orthodox Jewish community. The plot reportedly began in January 2020, with covert installation of cameras and tracking devices, and continued over two years with messages exchanged on WhatsApp. Attar’s co-defendants, Joseph Attar and Finkelstein, are also in custody. The case highlights allegations of political intimidation and illegal surveillance, with the indictment revealing detailed communications and plans to use blackmail for political advantage. Attar, a former prosecutor elected to the Maryland Senate in 2025, has not yet commented publicly. The Maryland Senate and Baltimore police have acknowledged the arrest, with officials emphasizing the importance of ethical standards and ongoing investigations.