WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - A Trump transition team official denied media reports on Monday (Nov 14) that President-elect Donald Trump was seeking security clearance for three of his children and his son-in-law.

Such clearance would allow Mr Trump to discuss matters of national security with his daughter Ivanka, sons Eric and Donald Jr and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Federal law prohibits him from hiring family members to serve in his administration, but all four played key advisory roles through the campaign and are members of the executive council of Mr Trump's transition committee.

Mr Trump has insisted that to avoid conflicts of interest, his children would run his sprawling business operations once he assumes the presidency.

CBS News, citing sources, reported on Monday that Mr Trump's team had asked the White House to explore the possibility of getting his children top-secret security clearances.

It said while nepotism rules prevent the President-elect from hiring his children to work in the White House, they do not need to be government officials to receive top secret security clearances.

The issue raises questions about the unique role of Mr Trump's children and conflicts of interest with their running of his network of businesses, according to the report.