Editor’s Note
This is a difficult story for Conjurly to publish. David Copperfield is one of the most successful illusionists in history and a towering figure in the magic community. However, the recent release of the Epstein files has brought renewed attention to his documented connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As a news source serving the magic community, we have a responsibility to address significant developments involving major figures in our field, even when those developments are troubling. This article focuses strictly on documented facts from court records, FBI files, and credible reporting. Being mentioned in the Epstein files does not constitute proof of wrongdoing, and David Copperfield has never been charged with any crime related to Jeffrey Epstein.
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9, 2026 — The Justice Department’s late January 2026 release of more than 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities has placed magician David Copperfield back in an uncomfortable spotlight, with some entertainment industry observers and Las Vegas locals calling for MGM Resorts to end his long-running residency at the MGM Grand.
The files, released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump, include phone message pads, FBI investigative memos, photographs, and court depositions that document a connection between the famed illusionist and Epstein, the financier who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
What the Documents Show
Phone message pads seized from Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion show that Copperfield, sometimes recorded as “Magic David,” left 16 messages for Epstein over several months in 2004 and 2005. The notations include phrases such as “it’s important,” “just called to say hello,” and “it’s jackpot.”
Among the most significant revelations are FBI investigative notes from 2007 stating there was “a clear connection” between Copperfield and Epstein, and recommending further investigation to determine whether the two “engaged in referring possible victims to each other.” The investigation was initiated after a woman accused Copperfield of sexual assault on Copperfield’s private island in the Bahamas. That investigation closed in 2010 without charges being filed.
A partially redacted October 2007 email described in the files characterizes Copperfield as “Epstein’s favorite cohort” and states that tickets with backstage passes to Copperfield’s shows were a frequent gift Epstein gave to young women. Additional FBI memos reference what agents described as a “business list” that “appears to be a compilation of females that he targeted for sexual conquest,” with claims that Copperfield’s staff were trained to identify young women in audiences and bring them backstage.
The document release also included undated photographs showing Copperfield and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate now serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking, posing together in bathrobes.
Testimony from Epstein’s Victims
In a 2016 deposition unsealed in 2024, Johanna Sjoberg, who has accused Epstein of abuse, testified that she attended a 2004 dinner at Epstein’s Palm Beach home where Copperfield performed magic tricks. According to Sjoberg’s testimony, Copperfield asked her whether she was aware that “girls were getting paid to find other girls.” When asked if Copperfield was a friend of Epstein’s, Sjoberg answered yes.
Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein’s former housekeeper, testified in a 2009 deposition that Copperfield visited Epstein’s house “maybe two or three times” and “came to the house, played tricks” before leaving. Rodriguez added that girls weren’t naked in the house while Copperfield was present.
In a separate 2016 deposition, when Epstein was asked whether he and Copperfield had “been together in the presence of minor girls under the age of 18” and whether he had “ever provided girls under the age 18 to David Copperfield for sexual purposes,” Epstein invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Copperfield’s Response and Legal History
Copperfield’s legal representatives have consistently denied that he was friends with Epstein, characterizing them as “at most, acquaintances” who met only a handful of times. His lawyers have stated that Copperfield “was completely unaware of Epstein’s horrific crimes” and that he has never been charged with any crime.
The 2007 FBI investigation into Copperfield began after former Miss Washington contestant Lacey Carroll accused him of sexual assault on Copperfield’s private island. Federal prosecutors investigated for two years before closing the case in December 2009 without filing charges. Carroll was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with making false statements to police regarding an unrelated sexual assault allegation in 2009, to which she pleaded guilty to obstruction.
In May 2024, The Guardian published an investigation in which 16 women accused Copperfield of sexual misconduct spanning four decades, including allegations of drugging and assault. Copperfield’s representatives issued a strong denial, stating the characterizations were “the exact opposite of who David is.”
Professional Impact
The Epstein file revelations have had tangible professional consequences. In January 2024, shortly after Copperfield’s name appeared in unsealed court documents, the global charity Save the Children ended a partnership for an elaborate illusion stunt that had been scheduled for February 2024.
Following the latest document release in late January 2026, Las Vegas influencers and social media users have called for MGM Resorts International and the Nevada Gaming Control Board to cancel Copperfield’s residency at the MGM Grand, where he has performed for years. As of mid-February 2026, Copperfield’s shows remain listed among the property’s entertainment offerings, and neither MGM nor Copperfield’s representatives have issued statements regarding the renewed scrutiny.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has broad authority under state law to investigate the suitability of individuals connected to licensed operations and can recommend actions including fines, license suspension, or revocation. Any formal regulatory action would require an investigation and hearing before the Gaming Commission.
Context and Perspective
It’s important to note that appearing in the Epstein files does not constitute evidence of criminal wrongdoing. The files contain millions of pages accumulated during investigations and include references to hundreds of individuals who had varying degrees of social, professional, or business contact with Epstein. Many prominent figures named in the documents have denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities or any involvement in misconduct.
David Copperfield has never been criminally charged in connection with Jeffrey Epstein or any related matter. The FBI investigation from 2007 was closed without charges, and Copperfield has maintained that allegations against him are false.
For the magic community, these revelations present a difficult reckoning with one of the art form’s most commercially successful and influential practitioners. Whether further developments emerge from the ongoing examination of the Epstein files remains to be seen.
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