Reid: Russian hacking ‘as big a deal’ as 9/11, Watergate

Senate Minority Leader Harry ReidHarry ReidIf Gorsuch pick leads to 'crisis,' Dems should look in mirror first Senate confirms Mulvaney to be Trump’s budget chief Democrats declare victory after Puzder bows out MORE (D-Nev.) says Russian hacking during this presidential election cycle is as significant as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Watergate scandal and called for a special commission to investigate.

“I think this is as big a deal as Watergate, as 9/11,” he told BuzzFeed at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. "I think they should have a 9/11-type commission. I know that [Sens.] Dianne FeinsteinDianne FeinsteinDem: Trump's China trademark looks like a quid pro quo Senate advances Trump's Commerce pick Flynn told FBI he didn't talk sanctions with Russian envoy: report MORE [D-Calif.], Ben CardinBen CardinHouse bill would prevent Trump from lifting Russian sanctions Overnight Cybersecurity: White House does damage control on Flynn | Pressure builds for probe Will Cory Booker vote against America’s ambassador to Israel? MORE [D-Md.] and others are calling for that. I think it’s a step in the right direction. This is a scandal that’s been uncovered.

“The Russians leaked information in a timely fashion to WikiLeaks, also another foreign entity, in an effort to sway the election. I don’t think there’s much question about that.”

Reid added both media reporting and the intelligence community suggest Russian interference helped Donald TrumpDonald TrumpNews flash: America isn't crying over the plight of the White House press corps Trump tweets: The media is the 'enemy of the American people' Georgia Dems eye ousted DOJ official Sally Yates for 2018 governor race MORE become the president-elect.

“You don’t need to have briefings from the CIA and other intelligence agencies to know what is going on,” he said. "All you have to do is read the press.

“To think that [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin has such good relations with the president-elect and now his new secretary of State,’” Reid added, referring to Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson and his past business with Moscow.

A CIA assessment has concluded that Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help Trump win the White House.

Intelligence agencies have identified various individuals who helped the Russian government leak hacked documents from several Democratic sources to WikiLeaks, according to reports last Friday.

Compromised sources included the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonThe latest scheme in the left’s war on Trump Local broadcast news knows America better than cable GOP lawmaker considers requiring presidential candidates to undergo medical exam MORE’s campaign manager.

Trump has fiercely rejected assessments that Russia aided his presidential bid, calling such conclusions “ridiculous” during an interview aired Sunday.

“I don’t believe it,” he said in the “Fox News Sunday” interview. "I think it’s just another excuse. Every week it’s another excuse."