Overview
- A federal grand jury indicted Attar, her brother Joseph Attar, and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein on eight counts, including extortion, conspiracy, and illegal interception of communications.
- Charging documents allege the group planted a tracker and hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors to record a onetime campaign consultant in bed with a married man in early 2020.
- Prosecutors say threats in 2021–2022 sought to stop the consultant from criticizing Attar or communicating with members of the Orthodox Jewish community about her voting record.
- A magistrate judge ordered all three defendants released after the indictment was unsealed on Oct. 30, with conditions that include surrendering passports and restricted travel.
- Attar denies wrongdoing and says the case stems from a disgruntled former employee, while Baltimore police say Finkelstein’s powers were suspended in 2022 and Maryland Senate leaders are monitoring the case.