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U.S. NEWS Friday 10 March 2023
Health data breach hitting Congress ‘could be extraordinary’

By LISA MASCARO and ple’s authenticity with two
FRANK BAJAK of the victims listed.
Associated Press “This is big. This isn’t just like
WASHINGTON (AP) — regular folks. This is every-
House leaders say the im- one,” said one victim who
pact of a hack of a health works in Washington, D.C.
insurance marketplace In all, 24 people in her of-
used by members of Con- fice had their records in the
gress “could be extraordi- dump. The AP is not naming
nary,” exposing sensitive victims or their workplaces
personal data of lawmak- to avoid further potential
ers, their employees and harm.
families. In all, thousands of Sample data posted to
people could be affected. the hacker forum by a dif-
DC Health Link, which runs ferent account and re-
the exchange, said an un- moved overnight Thursday
specified number of cus- listed data for a dozen DC
tomers were impacted Link participants. The AP
and it was notifying them reached one by phone.
and working with law en- “Oh my God,” the man
forcement to quantify the said, when informed the in-
damage. It said it was of- formation was public. All 12
fering identity theft service people listed work for the
to those affected and ex- People walk outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on June 9, 2022. same company or are fam-
tending credit monitoring Associated Press ily members.
to all customers. lies will experience identity families have enrolled in ies of the stolen data were In an email to all Senate
Some 11,000 of the ex- theft, financial crimes, and health insurance through not circulating in the cyber- email account holders on
change’s more than physical threats.” The sto- DC Health Link since 2014. crime underworld. Indeed, Wednesday, the sergeant
100,000 participants work len data includes Social “The size and scope of im- on Thursday, a new user on at arms recommended

in the House and Senate Security numbers, phones, pacted House customers the forum claimed a hack- that anyone registered on
in the nation’s capital and addresses, emails and em- could be extraordinary.” er known as “thekilob” had the health insurance ex-
district offices across the ployer names. They said the FBI told them stolen more than 55,000 change freeze their credit
nation or are relatives. The FBI said in a brief state- it was able to purchase the records and exclaimed to prevent identity theft.q
In a letter to the ex- ment Wednesday evening stolen data on the dark “Glory to Russia” in Cyrillic. An email sent out by the
change’s director posted it was aware of the incident web, where it was offered Some of the most active office of the Chief Adminis-
on Twitter, House Speaker and was assisting. for sale for an unspeci- cybercriminals are Russian trative Office of the House
Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., In the letter, McCarthy and fied amount Monday on a speakers and operate with on behalf of McCarthy and
and Minority Leader Ha- Jeffries said the FBI had hacker forum popular with little interference from the Jeffries called the breach
keem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said not yet determined the ex- cybercriminals. Kremlin. The user posted “egregious” and urged
the breach “significantly tent of the breach but that It was not clear, though, 200 records from the hack members to use credit and
increase the risk that Mem- thousands of House mem- whether and how the FBI online and The Associated identity theft monitoring
bers, staff and their fami- bers, employees and their could guarantee that cop- Press confirmed the sam- resources.q

GOP Leader McConnell remains in hospital after concussion

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Senate Republican leader hospitalized “for a few absent from the Senate. professional sporting
and LISA MASCARO Mitch McConnell suffered days of observation and Senators leaving a associations have focused
Associated Press a concussion after a fall at treatment,” a spokesman Republican conference on the dangers of repetitive
WASHINGTON (AP) — a local hotel and remains said Thursday. lunch on Thursday said head injuries. Even a single
The Kentucky senator, that that McConnell’s staff incident of concussion can
81, was at a Wednesday had given them an update limit a person’s abilities as
evening dinner for the during the meeting. Utah they recover. In 2019, the
Senate Leadership Fund, Sen. Mitt Romney said they GOP leader tripped and
a campaign committee were told that “he’s doing fell at his home in Kentucky,
aligned with him, when he well, feels fine, but had a suffering a shoulder fracture
tripped and fell. The dinner concussion.” that required surgery. The
was at the Waldorf Astoria President Joe Biden Senate had just started a
Washington DC, formerly tweeted that he wishes summer recess, and he
the Trump International McConnell a “speedy worked from home for some
Hotel. Spokesman David recovery” and looks weeks as he recovered.
Popp said McConnell forward to seeing him back First elected in 1984,
is being treated for a on the Senate floor. McConnell in January
concussion and “is grateful Romney predicted that became the longest-
to the medical professionals McConnell would stay serving Senate leader
for their care and to his in the hospital over the when the new Congress
colleagues for their warm weekend and return to the convened, breaking the
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to wishes.” McConnell’s office Senate next week. previous record of 16 years.
reporters following a closed-door policy meeting, at the Capitol did not provide additional But concussions can be The taciturn McConnell is
in Washington, Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Associated Press detail on his condition serious injuries and take often reluctant to discuss
or how long he may be time for recovery. Many his private life.q