October 19, 2007
Magic Trick
Twelve FBI agents yesterday raided the warehouse in Las Vegas where magician David Copperfield stores his "illusions" between gigs. The two-story facility, which he, as you might expect, pretentiously calls the International Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts, also contains sports cars, vintage automatons, gargoyle heads, an electric chair, 80,000 books, posters, and memorabilia. It's a treasure trove for magic scholars. After their childish glee subsided, the agents seized a computer hard drive, digital camera system, and almost $2 million in cash. The seizure is linked to an official FBI investigation connected to an investigation in Seattle. The FBI, no stranger to smoke and mirrors, could say only that "there was investigative activity yesterday and yesterday evening in Las Vegas." Copperfield's lawyer added, "We understand there is an investigation, are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation." (Herald Tribune)
THIS JUST IN: The smoke is clearing. A Seattle woman has claimed that Copperfield raped her when she was in the Bahamas. But because the alleged incident happened abroad and she didn't report it until she returned to the United States, Seattle authorities turned the case over to the FBI. Copperfield's Las Vegas attorney, David Chesnoff, told FOX News that possible sexual abuse claims against the illusionist were false. "If in fact those are the allegations, unfortunately false allegations are all too often made against famous individuals. But we are confident the investigation will conclude favorably. We are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation," he said.
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