The director behind an upcoming documentary about Melania Trump has now appeared in newly released files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, adding fresh controversy to the project.
Brett Ratner, a Hollywood filmmaker whose career has been clouded by past allegations, was pictured in one of the images released by the Department of Justice last Friday as part of the Epstein files disclosure.
The photo shows Ratner standing closely with Jean Luc Brunel, a longtime Epstein associate who later faced serious criminal charges. Brunel appears shirtless in the image and is being hugged by Ratner in what looks like a dark indoor setting. No details were provided about when or where the photo was taken.
Brunel died in 2022 inside a Paris prison while awaiting trial on charges of raping a minor. His name had surfaced years earlier in court documents linked to Epstein’s case.
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One of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, was previously named Brunel in legal filings in both the United States and France. She claimed she was forced to have sex with him multiple times while she was underage.
Ratner, who is directing the documentary titled MELANIA, has not publicly responded to the resurfaced image.
The documentary marks Ratner’s return to directing after a long absence. His last film as a director was Hercules in 2014. He later worked as a producer on several projects, including The Lego Ninjago Movie and Georgetown.
However, Ratner’s career stalled in 2017 after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge were among those who made allegations. Ratner has denied all claims.
Following those accusations, Ratner said he was “choosing to personally step away from all Warner Bros. related activities.” Warner Bros. later confirmed it would not renew its $450 million deal with Ratner’s production company.
The newly released Epstein files include thousands of documents and photos tied to the federal investigation. The DOJ released roughly 3,900 files across several data sets, ranging from police reports to redacted court filings.
Some images show well known public figures, including politicians and celebrities. Others include unusual items, such as scanned books and heavily censored legal records.
Since the release, at least 16 files have reportedly been removed from the DOJ website. One of those files included a photograph of President Donald Trump. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the removals were done to protect victims.
Featured image via X screengrab
