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The ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is demanding information on the security clearance of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.

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White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks at a White House meeting Monday.(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)

WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats aredemanding an explanation from the White House about how President Trump's son-in-law retains his security clearance despite questions about his Russian connections.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Jared Kushner failed to disclose meetings with Russian officials on his security clearance application before he was appointed as an unpaid adviser to the president in January.

The FBIis investigating the possibility Trump associates colluded with Russia in its attempts to influence thepresidential election, and Kushner has caught the attention of federal investigators for his contacts with Russian officials. The Washington Post reported that Kushner even sought a "back channel" to the Kremlin, through a Russian banker who was subject to U.S. sanctions.

"It is unclear why Mr. Kushner continues to have access to classified information while these allegations are being investigated," wrote Cummings and 17 other committee Democrats in a letter to White House chief of staffReince Preibus.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. But officials have previously said that back channels are "an appropriate part of diplomacy," and that Kushner quickly amended his security clearance application to disclose the meetings.

Cummings wants the White House to disclose information about Kushner's meetings with Russian officials and the processing of his security clearance.

He's also asking for similar information about former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired in February for lying to Vice President Pence about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States before he was sworn in.

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Oversight Committee Democrats question Jared Kushner's security clearance - USA TODAY