The director of the new documentary about First Lady Melania Trump has re-emerged in the spotlight after images featuring him with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were published by the US Department of Justice on Friday.
Brett Ratner, acclaimed for directing films like 'Rush Hour' and 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' was photographed sitting on a sofa next to Epstein and two young women, whose identities were obscured in the images.
The timing of the images remains uncertain, but they seem to have been captured in the same setting as previously released photographs showing Ratner with Epstein and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.
Significantly, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing in the newly released files. The BBC has approached Ratner's representatives for a comment regarding the situation.
These images are part of a broader release of documents relating to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while facing serious charges of sex trafficking.
The files highlight various high-profile individuals who had associations with Epstein, including Elon Musk and Bill Gates, raising debates around accountability and the implications for the subjects involved.
Ratner’s film, 'Melania: 20 Days to History,' focuses on the First Lady's life during the days leading to her husband's 2025 inauguration and has already garnered criticism for its connections to the Trump administration.
Notably, this project is Ratner's first since allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced during the #MeToo movement in 2017, which he has consistently denied.
