The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Lawrence: Donald Trump cares more about prosecuting James Comey than his own war in Iran
May 1, 2026
Jamie Raskin, constitutional scholar and congressman focused on voting rights; Ro Khanna, transparency-minded congressman active on oversight; Chris Van Hollen, senator versed in foreign policy and budgets. They debate Trump’s prioritization of a Comey prosecution over the Iran war, munitions and economic costs of the conflict, the political and legal fallout around the Comey seashell case, and calls for transparency on the Epstein note.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Comey Indictment Reveals DOJ Capture
- Lawrence O'Donnell frames the James Comey indictment as a political stunt benefiting Donald Trump's image management, not justice.
- He argues Todd Blanche pursued the case to please Trump, creating a historic record of abuse of DOJ power.
Prioritize Outrage On Humanitarian Harm
- O'Donnell prioritizes outrage toward humanitarian harms over legal theater, pointing to deaths in Iran and Africa tied to policy choices.
- He cites specific harms: Americans and Iranians killed and life-saving medicine withheld in Africa.
Political Backfire From The Seashells Case
- O'Donnell says the Comey prosecution weakens Trump politically while leaving Comey unharmed.
- He predicts dismissal will humiliate Trump and Todd Blanche and serve as clear evidence of presidential abuse for historians.