Fresh photos from the US Justice Department place Ratner, director of the Melania documentary, alongside Epstein and women, raising renewed public interest.
BY PC Bureau
February 2, 2026: A newly released batch of files related to the investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has once again cast a spotlight on several high-profile figures — including filmmaker Brett Ratner, the director of the recently released documentary Melania: 20 Days to History.
The images, made public by the US Justice Department, show Ratner sitting beside Epstein and two unidentified women in what appears to be a private setting. In some photographs, Ratner is seen embracing or sitting closely with a young woman, whose identity has been concealed. The photos were first reported by the BBC.
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The images appear to have been taken at the same location as earlier photographs released in December, which showed Epstein and Ratner alongside French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who later died in prison while facing rape and trafficking charges. The exact date and circumstances under which the newly released images were taken remain unclear.
Several photographs show Epstein, Ratner, and Brunel relaxed and smiling with different women. While the files do not allege any criminal wrongdoing by Ratner in these specific images, their release has renewed scrutiny of his past conduct and associations.
#BREAKING NEW: Video from Epstein dancing with a girl (🎥1)
NEW: Epstein plays catch with girls in his kitchen. (🎥2)
NEW: Brett Ratner, the director of the new documentary Melania, with Jeffrey Epstein and two young girls. 📸 pic.twitter.com/02np6BFAKm
— The World War (@TheWorldWar12) January 31, 2026
Ratner’s Controversial Past
Ratner, best known for directing the Rush Hour film franchise, has remained largely out of the public spotlight since 2017, when six women accused him of sexual harassment and assault. The filmmaker has denied all allegations, and his representatives have so far declined to comment on the latest revelations.
Melania: 20 Days to History, which premiered this week, marks Ratner’s first major project since the allegations emerged. The documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at Melania Trump’s life in the weeks leading up to Donald Trump’s January 2025 presidential inauguration.
However, the project has been met with harsh critical reception. According to Rolling Stone, nearly two-thirds of the production crew requested that their names not be formally credited, citing discomfort with Ratner’s involvement. Several crew members reportedly described him as “slimy” and “the worst part of working on the project,” while also recounting challenges in collaborating with him.
The Epstein Files
The newly released cache — known as the Epstein Files — includes over three million pages of documents, 2,000 videos, and nearly 180,000 images, shedding further light on Epstein’s extensive network of associates.
The documents reference numerous prominent figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, British billionaire Richard Branson, and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, among others. Many individuals named in the files have denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that mere association does not imply criminal conduct.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking of underage girls, in a case that sparked global outrage and intense scrutiny of powerful elites.
Renewed Scrutiny
The release of these images, coinciding with the debut of Ratner’s Melania documentary, has intensified public debate around accountability, power, and influence within elite social circles. While no new allegations have been formally made against Ratner based on the photos, critics argue that the revelations highlight the breadth and proximity of Epstein’s social network, raising persistent questions about how he maintained access to power for so long.
