US President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was appointed as a senior White House adviser working on trade and the Middle East, transition officials said on Monday, in a rare case of a close presidential family member taking a major job.
“Jared has been a tremendous asset and trusted adviser throughout the campaign and transition and I am proud to have him in a key leadership role in my administration,” Trump said in a statement announcing the appointment.
Thirty-five-year-old Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, will divest "substantial assets" to comply with federal ethics laws but he maybe challenged on federal anti-nepotism laws that prevent government officials from appointing their relatives to government positions.
The position, unlike Cabinet posts, does not require US Senate confirmation, and Kushner will not be paid.
Kushner is going to be working closely with the newly appointed White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and senior strategist Steve Bannon in advising the new president.
(With inputs from NBC News and Reuters)
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