‘Monopoly man’ makes appearance at Senate Equifax hearing

WASHINGTON — Hearings on Capitol Hill are usually no laughing matter — but an appearance by what appeared to be the “Monopoly man” at a Senate hearing regarding the recent Equifax data breach was at the very least snicker-inducing.

Former Equifax CEO Richard Smith testified at a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday after the company’s massive data breach. Over his shoulder, a person dressed as the top-hat and monocle-clad Monopoly mascot reacted to the testimony and became an internet sensation in the process.

It is not yet clear who portrayed the mustachioed Monopoly man — known as “Rich Uncle Pennybags.”

Smith testified at the second of four congressional hearings this week in which lawmakers demanded to know how the breach happened and what the company was doing to make things right for consumers. Hackers stole Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses, and in some instances driver’s license numbers.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at WTOP. She has worked several different roles since she began with WTOP in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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