Senate Judiciary Committee advances Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche nomination after close vote, as civil rights groups demand answers on ICE custody death

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to approve Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination, a step that brings him closer to a full Senate confirmation, according to PBS NewsHour. The report characterized the committee action as narrowly approved, setting up the next stage of the nomination process even as civil liberties advocates renewed demands for answers on separate federal enforcement questions.

The Justice Department confirmation track drew attention as civil rights groups said they are seeking additional information after a man reported to be from El Salvador died while in ICE custody, PBS reported. Advocates are calling for clarity around what happened before and during detention, and for any review or accountability connected to the death, the outlet said.

Separately, the day’s wrap also pointed to diplomacy and energy security concerns in the Middle East. Iran and Oman were reported to be nearing a potential deal that could reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to PBS NewsHour. The report placed the development in the broader context of efforts to reduce disruptions in a chokepoint that is central to global energy transport.

The committee’s action on Blanche takes place amid ongoing public debate over federal enforcement authorities, including the role of the Justice Department and the standards that govern detention and removal. While the PBS report did not resolve those broader disputes, it linked the nomination momentum to the heightened attention civil rights groups are directing at federal custody practices.

In the nomination process, the Judiciary Committee’s approval is typically a key procedural milestone, but it is not the final confirmation step. PBS’s report framed the approval as an additional procedural hurdle cleared, with the timeline and ultimate outcome now dependent on further Senate action.

For the ICE custody death issue and the Strait of Hormuz reporting, the PBS wrap indicated the developments are still prompting active questions and negotiations, rather than settled outcomes. Civil rights groups’ demands for answers and the reported motion toward an Oman-Iran arrangement suggest that additional official statements, investigative updates, or diplomatic documentation would be needed to confirm details and determine next steps.