The latest release of the Epstein Files by the US Department of Justice has unveiled another tie between President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.
Hollywood film director Brett Ratner, who is presently leading the production of a documentary film about first lady Melania Trump, set to release next month, is pictured in the Epstein files cozied up to Jean-Luc Brunnel, a now-deceased French modeling agent and longtime associate of Epstein.
The photo of Ratner and Brunel was undated and lacked a location where it was taken or any further context.
The documents released Friday originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes against young women.
Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 – a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial.
Trump and Melania were pictured with Epstein during several events in the early 2000s. Still, the President is said to have severed ties with the late financier and known pedophile decades ago.
Ratner and the White House have been contacted for comment.
The revelation is the latest in a slew of negative press for Ratner.
American film director Brett Ratner (right) poses with Jean-Luc Brunel in an undated photograph released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
First lady Melania Trump, pictured in her upcoming film ‘Melania’ set to be released on January 30th of 2026
Ahead of the film’s release, past sexual misconduct allegations against him have also resurfaced.
Once a prominent Hollywood filmmaker, Ratner became embroiled in the #MeToo movement in 2017 after a Los Angeles Times investigation reported that six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, accused him of sexual misconduct.
Ratner has consistently denied the allegations and was never criminally charged.
Nevertheless, during a recent episode of The View, cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, who worked for former Vice President Mike Pence during the first Trump administration, criticized the First Lady’s decision to work with Ratner.
Griffin said his history distracts from the project and raises concerns about placing the First Lady in an uncomfortable position.
While she said the allegations gave her pause, Griffin added that she might still consider watching the documentary when it becomes available.
‘What bothered me about this doc, the director has been accused of sexual misconduct by many prominent actors, Griffin noted on a recent episode of The View.
‘He denies all allegations, but 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 from it,’ Griffin continued’, also noting that Ratner’s ties make her ‘on the cusp of even wanting to watch it.’
In addition to the original accusations, Ratner was also accused of rape by Hawaii resident Melanie Kohler in 2017, a claim he denied.
Brett Ratner is seen on May 7, 2023 in Miami, Florida
He filed a defamation lawsuit against Kohler, which he later dropped in 2018. More recently, in 2023, actress Rebecca Romijn said she had negative experiences working with Ratner on X-Men: The Last Stand, stating she felt he ‘had it coming’ when his career stalled, though she declined to provide further details.
Ratner had not directed a film in nearly a decade before being selected for the Melania documentary. He was previously known for his work on the ‘Rush Hour’ series, as well as other films, including X-Men and War Dogs.
According to reports, Melania Trump was a fan of his work, and sources claimed she did not view his being ‘canceled’ as a drawback.
The project has reportedly drawn concern from Secret Service agents and others due to Ratner’s past, especially given that he was granted extensive access to the Trump White House during filming.
