While Donald Trump has no plans to nominate or appoint any of his children to formally serve in his administration, critics have raised conflict of interest concerns over the president-elect's proposal to transfer his business empire over to his three eldest.
Trump has already begun passing the reigns of his umbrella company, the Trump Organization, to Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka Trump, all of whom already serve as executive vice presidents of the company, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night.
Last week, the president-elect named all three to the executive committee of his transition team, which is tasked with selecting cabinet members to head government agencies—the same agencies that will be responsible for making decisions that could affect the family company.
Though Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said the Trump children will not hold posts in the administration, the president-elect is considering a White House role for his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The move could run into legal challenges concerning federal anti-nepotism law, which prohibits government officials from appointing relatives to cabinet positions or, as some interpret, to the White House staff, the New York Times reported.
Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, served as a close adviser to Trump during the presidential campaign. Kushner joined Trump at the White House last week when the president-elect first met with President Obama.
Kushner was also reportedly involved in the ousting of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from Trump's transition team. While serving as a U.S. attorney over a decade ago, Christie imprisoned his father, Charles Kushner.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Government Reform committee, sent a letter to Trump's transition team this week demanding clarification on reports that the president-elect is attempting to secure a security clearance for Kushner.