Ivanka Trump’s appointment as Presidential adviser ‘violation of nepotism laws’, says Barack Obama’s ethics lawyer

'My view... is that the nepotism statue does apply to the White House'

Ivanka Trump speaks at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington (AP)

Barack Obama’s White House ethics lawyer has claimed Ivanka Trump’s appointment as an adviser to President Donald Trump is a violation of nepotism laws.

Ms Trump has now been hired as an official government employee after saying she would serve as an unpaid senior advisor to the president.

Some have argued that the role is violation of the nepotism law, which states no public official may hire or promote a relative.

Norman Eisen, was the chief ethics counsel for Mr Obama, and said that Mr Trump does not believe nepotism rules apply to his presidency.

“My view... is that the nepotism statue does apply to the White House," Mr Eisen said on CNN.

"For decades the Justice Department held 'yes' the nepotism statue applies to the White House."

"President Trump got an opinion from the Justice Department that the nepotism statute doesn't apply to his White House. We don't agree with that opinion," he added.

Ms Trump had initially stated she would have an informal role but critics pointed out that this would allow her to avoid ethic rules.

She already has an office in the West Wing, and has long been someone inextricably associated to a number of her father’s policy decisions.