Story highlights The news emerged late into attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions's first day of questions

Reid took something of a victory lap on Tuesday

(CNN) Congress is quickly grappling Tuesday with a new spate of allegations about Donald Trump's ties to Russia, with some already claiming that the unverified report vindicates their prior suspicions and statements.

Classified documents presented last week to Trump and President Barack Obama included allegations that Russian operatives claim to have compromising personal and financial information about Mr. Trump, according to multiple US officials with direct knowledge of the briefings.

Sources tell CNN that these same allegations about communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians, mentioned in classified briefings for congressional leaders last year, prompted then-Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to send a letter to FBI Director James Comey in October, in which he claimed Comey had "explosive information" about the relationship.

Reid took something of a victory lap on Tuesday.

"Sen. Reid's letters and statements speak for themselves," a Reid spokesman, Adam Jentleson, said Tuesday, re-sharing that October letter.

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