Washington (CNN) The inspector general for the US intelligence community has denied a request from Senate Democrats to review the policies and procedures surrounding security clearances at the White House.

The request came after questions about how some White House officials, including the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump , obtained security clearances.

In the letter obtained by CNN, intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson wrote that President Donald Trump would have to request a review of the White House's security clearance procedures in order for the inspector general or the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to conduct one.

"As a legal matter, the ICIG also lacks authority to unilaterally review compliance by the (Executive Office of the President) with policies and procedures governing security clearances," wrote Atkinson.

In response, the Senate Democrats wrote a letter to Trump urging him to direct a review of the White House's security clearances -- and argued Congress should take a larger role is the executive branch will not do so.

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