Democratic lawmaker secretly filmed two critics in bed together to try to silence them

In a stunning political scandal shaking Maryland’s Democratic establishment, State Senator Dalia Attar, along with her brother Joseph Attar and Baltimore Police Officer Calman Finkelstein, has been indicted on federal charges of extortion and conspiracy. The alleged blackmail plot — involving hidden cameras, tracking devices, and a political consultant’s private affair — has cast a long shadow over Annapolis just months before a crucial election season.

The newly unsealed indictment paints a disturbing picture of how far the senator and her associates allegedly went to protect her political career. Federal prosecutors claim the scheme began in 2020, when Attar, fearing potential political damage during her re-election campaign, recruited her brother and Finkelstein to target a former political consultant who had fallen out with her team.

The Alleged Plot: Cameras, Threats, and Coercion

According to court documents, the trio allegedly planted a tracking device on the consultant’s vehicle and later broke into her home to secretly record her in bed with a married man. The group then allegedly used that footage to threaten exposure, hoping to silence her during Attar’s 2022 re-election effort.

Prosecutors also say the defendants went as far as to threaten the consultant’s daughter, allegedly suggesting they could interfere with her matchmaking prospects within Baltimore’s Jewish community — a shocking escalation that investigators described as “deeply personal and vindictive.”

The indictment includes a series of text message transcripts between Dalia Attar, her brother Joseph, and Officer Finkelstein. In one exchange, Attar allegedly wrote, “The video could be the perfect way to scare her. We have a way to potentially stop her — why not at least try?”

Federal prosecutors argue this proves Attar was not only aware of the conspiracy but actively directing it.

“I Have Hours of You in Bed”

The case took another turn in December 2021, when Joseph Attar allegedly met with the man seen in the recorded footage. The meeting, which reportedly took place at the Green Spring Shopping Center in Pikesville, was caught in part through surveillance.

During that encounter, Joseph allegedly warned the man, “I have hours of you in bed,” and told him to make sure the consultant stopped “talking about Dalia Attar.” Prosecutors say Joseph then threatened to release the video publicly if the consultant continued to interfere in the campaign.

Baltimore Police later confirmed that Officer Finkelstein, accused of helping obtain and conceal the surveillance footage, was suspended with pay in 2022 as the investigation began. Following Thursday’s indictment, the department has now suspended him without pay pending trial.

Senator Attar Pushes Back

Senator Attar, who was appointed to the Maryland Senate earlier this year by Governor Wes Moore to fill a vacancy left by Senator Jill Carter, issued a strongly worded statement denying the allegations.

“This case centers on the claims of a disgruntled former employee,” Attar said in a press release. “We have yet to see any tangible evidence that I knew of or participated in any illegal actions.”

Her attorney, Jeff Ifra, went even further, calling the allegations “baseless” and suggesting the case is being driven by “an unstable, vindictive woman within the Baltimore Jewish community who was terminated from Attar’s first campaign for cause.”

Ifra added that the defense plans to “resolve the case before trial” but is “fully prepared to fight the charges if necessary.”

Political Fallout and Party Backlash

The timing of the indictment couldn’t be worse for Maryland Democrats. Attar, 36, had only been in the Senate for ten months after serving six years as a delegate representing northwest Baltimore City. Her quick rise through the party ranks had made her a promising new voice in state politics.

Now, that future appears uncertain.

Political analyst John Dey told FOX45 that Attar’s career is “in limbo,” particularly as she already faces a primary challenge from current State Delegate Malcolm Ruff.

“It’s going to be a lot easier to run for that Senate seat now, no matter how this case plays out,” Dey said. “Even if she’s acquitted, the public perception damage is huge.”

Ruff, who narrowly lost the Democratic Central Committee vote to Attar earlier this year before Governor Moore confirmed her appointment, has yet to comment on the indictment. But insiders say pressure is mounting within the party to distance itself from the senator as details continue to emerge.

A Growing Scrutiny on Appointment Process

The case also raises questions about how Attar was chosen to fill Carter’s Senate seat in the first place. Her appointment, approved in January 2025 by fellow Democrats, is now being scrutinized by watchdog groups who say background checks and internal vetting may have failed to detect red flags.

Governor Moore’s office has not issued a direct comment on Attar’s indictment, but a spokesperson said the administration “expects all public officials to uphold the highest ethical standards.”

A Familiar Pattern in Baltimore Politics

For Baltimore residents, this scandal feels uncomfortably familiar. The city has weathered a long list of political corruption cases over the past decade — from former Mayor Catherine Pugh’s “Healthy Holly” book scheme to former State Senator Nathaniel Oaks’ bribery conviction.

“This just adds to the cynicism people already feel,” said one local voter outside a Pikesville coffee shop. “Every time you start to trust again, another headline like this drops.”

What’s Next

Attar, her brother Joseph, and Officer Finkelstein are all expected to appear in federal court later this month. Each faces multiple felony counts of extortion, conspiracy, and misuse of electronic surveillance devices, carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

While the senator maintains her innocence, the political damage may already be irreversible.

As one Democratic insider told FOX45 off the record:

“Even if she walks free, her career’s over. The optics alone are devastating.”

For now, Senator Attar remains free on bond — and still holds her seat in the Maryland State Senate. But in a city all too familiar with scandal, many are wondering how long she’ll be able to keep it.