Magician David Copperfield was accused of sexually assaulting a then 20 year-old aspiring model in 2007. The woman claims that Copperfield tricked her into going to his estate in the Bahamas, claiming that she would be attending an industry party. When she got there, it was only Copperfield and her and she claims brutally raped and assaulted her in several separate incidents. The victim did everything right – she reported the attacks to the authorities, didn’t shower afterwards and had a rape kit performed when she returned home to Seattle. The FBI are still investigating this case and deciding if they have enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges. It’s a federal case as the rape took place in the Bahamas. The victim is suing Copperfield for damages, and he’s predictably attacking her character:

A woman who claims David Copperfield sexually assaulted and threatened her in 2007 has just filed a federal lawsuit against him.

The woman — a 22-year-old fashion model — alleges the assault took place while she was a guest on his private island in the Bahamas back in 2007, this according to the lawsuit obtained by The Seattle Times.

In the suit, the woman alleges she met David during one of his shows back in January of 2007 — then was invited to his island in July of the same year. The suit says after she watched a movie in David’s room, he “attacked [her] and sexually assaulted her” and threatened to kill her if she didn’t go along.

The lawsuit alleges David assaulted her two more times before she left the island. She reported the alleged assaults to Seattle police, who turned it over to the FBI.

Copperfield’s lawyers have already responded to the lawsuit with a long, brutal statement — here are a few of the highlights:

“This woman, who filed the lawsuit, has a history of lying … She has lied to law enforcement before and, as a result, had innocent people arrested based on a false accusation … she is incapable of telling the truth.

This lawsuit is extortion for money, plain and simple. Unfortunately, false claims like this only hurt the women who really have been abused, women who really need our help.”

[From TMZ]

TMZ uncovered a detailed document in 2007 in which Copperfield instructed his staff on ways to pull attractive women out of his audience and get their contact information, even going so far as to explain how to handle boyfriends and husbands. At the end of the “meet and greet,” the staff is instructed to tell the woman “Do you know that David has recently bought some islands in the Bahamas? Well they are BEAUTIFUL and we are doing a lot of project [sic] for these islands: Ads, TV, radio and many other promotions. So we like [sic] to keep in touch with you in case there is a job in the future we think you would be interested in.” The women are asked detailed information as to whether they’re single and where they’re staying.

The story on the Seattle Times’ website is much more detailed if you’d like to read it. It includes the allegations on how Copperfield attacked this woman. This makes me incredibly upset, especially considering Copperfield’s obnoxious response about “women who really need our help.” Yes people are innocent until proven guilty, but again read Copperfield’s detailed, super-creepy instructions to his staff on how to hand pick attractive women from the audience and trick them into going to the Bahamas with him and you tell me if you would leave your daughter/wife/girlfriend alone with him.

I bet this woman waited until the statute of limitations was nearly out because she was hoping that the criminal case would proceed. When it remained stalled, she decided on a civil suit. I hope that the Feds have enough evidence on Copperfield to level criminal charges and -if these allegations are true- that the victim receives a significant portion of his estate. I find this man loathsome.

Copperfield is shown at a press conference on 8/8/09 in Sydney. Credit: WENN.com