The latest document release from the US Department of Justice concerning the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has revealed a new connection to the Trump orbit. The files include an undated photograph showing Hollywood director Brett Ratner alongside Jean-Luc Brunel, a deceased French modelling agent and a longtime associate of Epstein.
Ratner's Controversial Project for the First Lady
This revelation comes at a sensitive time for Ratner, who is currently leading production on a documentary film about First Lady Melania Trump. The film, titled 'Melania', is scheduled for release on 30 January 2026. The image, which lacks specific location details or context, was part of a trove of documents made public on 19 December 2025.
The documents originate from three separate investigations into Epstein's crimes against young women. Many stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, and a subsequent federal probe that ended with Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a Manhattan prosecution launched in 2019, a case left unfinished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial.
Resurfaced Allegations and Political Criticism
This disclosure is the latest in a series of negative headlines for Ratner. Ahead of the documentary's release, past sexual misconduct allegations against him have resurfaced. In 2017, he was embroiled in the #MeToo movement after six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, accused him of misconduct. Ratner has consistently denied these allegations and was never criminally charged.
The director's involvement has drawn criticism from political commentators. On a recent episode of The View, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, questioned the First Lady's decision to work with Ratner. "I wouldn't, as a staffer, put the First Lady in a position of working with somebody who had that history. It's a distraction," Griffin stated, adding that the allegations made her hesitant to watch the film.
Further accusations include a 2017 rape claim from Hawaii resident Melanie Kohler, which Ratner denied and later dropped a defamation lawsuit over. In 2023, actress Rebecca Romijn also alluded to negative experiences working with him on X-Men: The Last Stand.
Access and Security Concerns
Ratner, who had not directed a film in nearly a decade before this project, was reportedly selected because Melania Trump was a fan of his previous work, such as the Rush Hour series. Sources claim she did not see his being 'cancelled' as a drawback.
However, the project has reportedly raised concerns. Secret Service agents and others are said to be uneasy about Ratner's past, particularly given the extensive access he was granted to the Trump White House during filming. The White House and Ratner's representatives have been contacted for comment regarding the latest revelations.
While President Donald Trump and Melania were photographed with Epstein in the early 2000s, the President is said to have severed ties with the financier decades ago. The new document release, however, ensures the Epstein case continues to cast a long shadow over associated figures.
