Magician David Copperfield, whose name figured in Epstein files, accused of sexual assault by 16 women: Report

Sixteen women have accused the renowned magician David Copperfield of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour spanning decades, an investigation by The Guardian US newspaper revealed. The claims span from the late 1980s to 2014. 

The report claimed the American illusionist "drugged three women before he had sexual relations with them, for which they felt they were unable to consent". 

The bombshell report also claimed that over half of the alleged offences happened when victims were under the age of 18 with some stating that they were as young as 15. However, it is also possible that Copperfield may not be aware of their ages. 

Copperfield's lawyers have rejected the allegations, calling them "false and entirely without foundation". 

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He has "never acted inappropriately with anyone, let alone anyone underage" and a "truthful" depiction of the magician would describe his "kindness, shyness and treatment of men and women with respect", his lawyers told the newspaper. 

One victim with the alias Gillian told the outlet that she agreed to meet Copperfield for a drink in 1993 after one of his shows. "I … would never just say this to somebody if I didn't truly, honest to God believe that I was drugged at that time," Gillian said as quoted, 

Another victim claimed that she met the magician at one of his concerts. She was said to be 15 at that time. The victim alleged that after she performed on stage with him at a gig in Savannah, Georgia, he approached her and her mother in the parking lot. 

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As per the report, he took her phone number and handed her a business card. He apparently promised her to take her to dinner when she turned 18. But he started to call her late at night. She said he sent her gifts and tickets to his shows. They had consensual sex after she turned 18. She said that it was her first time. 

"I was a young schoolgirl infatuated with a man who was famous and I think he used that to benefit him. Why would he continue to reach out to me through those years if he wasn't planning on pouncing as soon as I turned 18?," she told the paper. 

Women in four other cases claimed that Copperfield had groped them or made them touch him in a sexual way during live performances on stage. 

One victim even claimed that the magician squeezed her breast after he called her on stage during a performance in January 2014 at the MGM Grand casino-hotel. The report mentioned that she even approached MGM and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The police told the newspaper that they had to close the case because of "insufficient evidence". According to the report, she felt her claim was never taken seriously. 

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Copperfield's connection with Jeffrey Epstein 

Copperfield has been under fire for his association with Jeffrey Epstein, an indicted child sex trafficker who committed suicide in prison in 2019. His lawyers denied any association, but Copperfield was among the high-profile individuals who were named in Epstein-related court documents that were unsealed in January. 

His lawyers told the paper that Copperfield had heard a "rumour" about this, however, he had "no knowledge or belief that anything improper was going on". 

"Our client did not know about Epstein's horrific crimes. Like the rest of the world, he learned about it from the press," his lawyers said. 

(With inputs from agencies)