A scandal has erupted in Maryland politics that reads like a gritty crime novel, pulling back the curtain on a disturbing abuse of power.

State Sen. Dalya Attar, along with her brother Joseph Attar and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein, faces serious extortion charges tied to a calculated blackmail scheme against a former political consultant, as detailed by the New York Post.

The allegations paint a chilling picture of surveillance and intimidation, centered on a personal affair used as leverage to silence criticism during Attar's 2022 re-election campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates. This case raises hard questions about ethics in politics and the lengths some will go to protect their image.

Unveiling a Calculated Scheme of Surveillance

The indictment, unsealed on Thursday in Baltimore federal court, claims Attar orchestrated a plot starting in January 2020 to neutralize a former consultant who had turned critic after working on her 2018 campaign. The falling out, though not fully explained, evidently fueled a vendetta.

Prosecutors allege Attar’s brother and Finkelstein, among others, planted a tracker on the consultant’s car and hid cameras in a smoke detector at an apartment used for secret meetings with a married man. “Damn, I wish I had [the man’s] stamina,” Finkelstein reportedly quipped in a WhatsApp voice message, a remark that underscores the invasive nature of this operation.

This wasn’t just petty gossip; it was a deliberate setup to gather damaging material. Such tactics, if proven, reveal a troubling willingness to exploit personal vulnerabilities for political gain.

Threats and Intimidation Tactics Escalate

By March 2021, Attar allegedly expressed urgency to a co-conspirator, fretting that the consultant “needs to be warned before mailers to the Jewish community start coming out about things I’ve voted on in the last 3 years.” This message suggests a fear of public scrutiny and a desire to preemptively strike.

The threats deepened in December 2021 when Joseph Attar allegedly confronted the married man involved, showing him bedroom footage and demanding he pressure the consultant to “leave Dalya alone” during the election cycle. The ultimatum included threats to expose the video to family, rabbis, and matchmakers in Israel, targeting the consultant’s daughters’ marriage prospects.

This kind of coercion, if true, crosses a moral line far beyond typical political hardball. It’s a stark reminder of how personal lives can be weaponized in the quest for power, a trend that should alarm any voter.

Continued Pressure and Public Denials

In April 2022, after the consultant posted criticism of Attar’s voting record on Facebook, the senator reportedly messaged her brother and a co-conspirator, stating, “She needs to know we’re serious.” This persistence hints at an unrelenting campaign to silence dissent.

Later that year, in June 2022, Joseph Attar allegedly sent direct threats to the consultant, including, “just leave me and my family alone and nothing will ever come out.” Such words, if verified, expose a desperate attempt to bury the truth through fear.

Attar’s response to these charges, however, is one of defiance and denial, as she stated on Thursday evening, “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.” While her commitment to service may be genuine, the gravity of the accusations demands more than platitudes; it calls for accountability.

A Stain on Public Trust and Ethical Standards

Attar, who made history as the first Orthodox Jewish woman in Maryland’s state Senate after her appointment in January, now faces a tarnished reputation alongside potential prison time of up to 20 years if convicted on all counts, including conspiracy and unlawful disclosure of communications. Her brother and Finkelstein, whose police powers were suspended in 2022, are also implicated in this web of deceit.

The broader implications of this case strike at the heart of public trust, especially when elected officials are accused of abusing their influence in such a personal and predatory manner. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson’s statement about holding members to the “highest ethical standards” feels almost hollow against the backdrop of these allegations.

Ultimately, this saga is a sobering lesson in the darker side of politics, where ambition can eclipse integrity. As the legal process unfolds, Maryland voters deserve transparency and a renewed focus on leaders who prioritize principle over power plays.