Attorney Todd Blanche, who defended Donald Trump in his criminal New York hush-money trial, has emerged as the frontrunner for U.S. attorney general, although some state AG's are also in contention.

The opening emerged after the sudden withdrawal of the president-elect's first pick, Matt Gaetz.

Blanche had already been tapped by Trump, who named him to be Gaetz's No. 2 at the Department of Justice as deputy AG, among his slew of Cabinet and West Wing picks.

'I am pleased to announce that Todd Blanche will serve as Deputy Attorney General in my Administration,' the 78-year-old former president announced last week. 

'Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long.'

Trump touted the 50-year-old's experience in prosecuting gangs and the fact he stood by his side during the Manhattan case where he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to the payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Emil Bove, another attorney on the hush money trial team, was given the role of principal associate deputy attorney general while John Sauer, the lawyer in Trump's Supreme Court immunity case, was chosen as solicitor general. 

Blanche was already up for a post that requires Senate confirmation.

His close relationship with the president could make for a bumpy road with Democrats in the Senate as the Justice Department is expected to be run independently of a president's desires.

But Republicans will have the majority come January. 

Trump has also appointed another member of his defense team, Bove, to serve as principal associate deputy attorney general.

Prior to the Trump case, Bove was the co-chief of the national security unit at the US attorney's office for the Southern District of New York.

In a statement to CNN when he was hired, Blanche called Bove 'an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation'.