Trump made racist remarks about Obama and Mandela, Cohen book claims

Cohen's lawyers claim their client's gag order is a violation of the First Amendment

Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen claims the president made racist remarks about Barack Obama and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The Washington Post reported that the details of the alleged comments are revealed in Mr Cohen's up-coming book.

The contents of the book were partially detailed in a lawsuit seeking the lawyer's immediate release from prison. The lawsuit alleges that Cohen was sent back to prison earlier this month in retaliation for attempting to publish his book prior to the 2020 US election.

According to the court filing, Cohen claims the book will include "my firsthand experiences and observations based on my decade-long employment and relationship with Mr Trump and his family, both before and after he was elected."

"In particular, my book will provide graphic and unflattering details about the President's behaviour behind closed doors," Cohen wrote.

The "unflattering details" include Mr Trump's alleged "pointedly anti-Semitic remarks and virulently racist remarks against such Black leaders as President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela." Cohen claims Mr Trump did not view either as "real leaders or worthy of respect by virtue of their race."

Cohen's defence team — which includes American Civil Liberties Union lawyers — claim that their client was forced to sign a gag order by probation officers. The order prevents Cohen from speaking with the mediator publishing a book for the remainder of his sentence.

The attorneys claim the gag order was a violation of Cohen's First Amendment rights.

Cohen was allowed to serve his prison sentence under house arrest due to coronavirus concerns, but was rearrested on 9 July. Law enforcement officials claim Cohen was taken back into custody because he refused to wear his ankle monitor, which Cohen's lawyers claim is a lie.

Since being re-arrested, Cohen has been held in solitary confinement.

The attorney was convicted of making false statements, campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.

Cohen's book is reportedly titled "Disloyal: The True Story of Michael Cohen, Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump."