Accused governor retains power to appoint

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.

Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Mr Obama’s home state of Illinois, “put a for-sale sign on the naming of a United States senator” in a move which would “make Lincoln roll over in his grave”, prosecutors said.