The son of former US presidential candidate Jesse Jackson has admitted conspiracy to commit fraud with electoral funds when he was a congressman.

Defiant Rod Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, said today that if what he had done as Illinois governor was an impeachable offence, he was living on the “wrong planet” and in the “wrong place”.

US politicians were today rushing to prevent the state governor charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat in a “political corruption crime spree” appointing someone to the post.

Family and friends of the Rev Jesse Jackson are seeking prayers and privacy for the civil rights activist and CNN talk show host .