Overview
- An indictment unsealed Thursday charges Attar with eight counts, including conspiracy, extortion via interstate communications, aiding and abetting, and illegal interception and disclosure of communications.
- Prosecutors say co-defendants Joseph Attar and Baltimore police officer Kalman Finkelstein helped plant a tracker and cameras disguised as smoke detectors to record the consultant with a married man.
- Charging documents assert the recording was leveraged to stop criticism of Attar’s record within Baltimore’s Orthodox Jewish community and to deter the consultant from aiding rivals.
- A federal magistrate ordered Attar, her brother, and Finkelstein released from custody under conditions that include surrendering their passports and restricted travel.
- Attar issued a statement denying knowledge of illegal acts and describing the case as allegations from a former disgruntled employee as she continues her campaign for a full Senate term.