One of the first acts taken by Donald Trump’s administration was to rule that his son-in-law could become senior advisor without any conflict of interest with federal anti-nepotism laws.

The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel addressed new US President in an official document published on the day of his inauguration.

The department’s ruling enabled Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, to be promoted to the role of senior advisor.

Federal anti-nepotism laws in the US prevent relatives from being appointed to government positions.

But Mr Trump transition team argued they only apply to jobs in federal agencies and not for White House posts.

Their efforts were backed by a career Justice Department attorney, who prepared the department’s memo and agreed that the President “enjoys an unusual degree of freedom when choosing his personal staff”.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel L Koffsky wrote that “because of the President’s special hiring authority for the White House Office” the anti-nepotism law is superseded by a different statute.

In pictures: Chile forest fire Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Chile forest fire In pictures: Chile forest fire View of a forest fire in Pumanque, 140 km south of Santiago. The Chilean government declared a state of emergency in several central areas due to forest fires that have destroyed more than 35,000 hectares of woods so far Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire A firefighter helicopter helps try to put out a forest fire in Pumanque, 140 km south of Santiago Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire A firefighter drinks during works to put out a forest fire in Pumanque, 140 km south of Santiago Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire A firefighter works to put out a forest fire in Pumanque Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire The Chilean government declared a state of emergency in several central areas due to forest fires that have destroyed more than 35,000 hectares of woods so far Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire View of a forest fire in Pumanque, 140 km south of Santiago Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire Burnt land is seen after forest fires in a town called Cauquenes in the Maule region, south of Chile Reuters In pictures: Chile forest fire View of a fire in Pumanque, 140 km south of Santiago Getty Images In pictures: Chile forest fire Firefighters work to put out a fire in Pumanque Getty Images

This other law, authorises the President “to appoint and fix the pay of employees in the White House Office without regard to any other provision of law regulating the employment or compensation of persons in the Government service”, he wrote.

“Congress has not blocked, and most likely could not block, the President from seeking advice from family members in their personal capacities.”