The director of the new documentary on US First Lady Melania Trump has appeared embracing a young woman in images released by the US Department of Justice on Friday. Brett Ratner, who also directed the 'Rush Hour' films and 'X-Men: The Last Stand', can be seen sitting on a sofa beside the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and two women whose identities have been obscured.
When the images were taken remains unclear, though they appear to have been captured in the same locale as previous photos featuring Ratner and Epstein alongside French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, which were released in December.
There is no indication of wrongdoing from the files. The BBC has contacted Ratner's representative for comment.
The newly released images were part of a tranche of millions of files related to the late sex offender, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A series of thumbnails depicting Ratner, Epstein, and Brunel smiling and relaxing with different women, all of whose identities have been concealed, are included.
The law that led to the files' release mandates that they be redacted to protect victims or ongoing investigations. However, a lawyer representing many victims has stated that numerous survivors' identities were improperly disclosed in the drop.
These files were released on the same day as the premiere of 'Melania: 20 Days to History', which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the first lady's life leading up to her husband's January 2025 inauguration. The film has faced criticism over its connection to the Trump administration and its funding.
Ratner's documentary marks his first project since accusations of sexual misconduct emerged against him during the #MeToo movement in 2017, allegations he has denied.
The recent file release has also shed new light on Epstein's relationships with high-profile figures including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, alongside notorious images, like that of the former Duke of York, stripped of his titles due to his association with Epstein.
Jean-Luc Brunel, who co-founded modelling agencies with Epstein, was found dead in his prison cell in 2022, suspected of transporting young women for Epstein. This adds a grim highlight to the complexities surrounding the case.
When the images were taken remains unclear, though they appear to have been captured in the same locale as previous photos featuring Ratner and Epstein alongside French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, which were released in December.
There is no indication of wrongdoing from the files. The BBC has contacted Ratner's representative for comment.
The newly released images were part of a tranche of millions of files related to the late sex offender, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A series of thumbnails depicting Ratner, Epstein, and Brunel smiling and relaxing with different women, all of whose identities have been concealed, are included.
The law that led to the files' release mandates that they be redacted to protect victims or ongoing investigations. However, a lawyer representing many victims has stated that numerous survivors' identities were improperly disclosed in the drop.
These files were released on the same day as the premiere of 'Melania: 20 Days to History', which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the first lady's life leading up to her husband's January 2025 inauguration. The film has faced criticism over its connection to the Trump administration and its funding.
Ratner's documentary marks his first project since accusations of sexual misconduct emerged against him during the #MeToo movement in 2017, allegations he has denied.
The recent file release has also shed new light on Epstein's relationships with high-profile figures including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, alongside notorious images, like that of the former Duke of York, stripped of his titles due to his association with Epstein.
Jean-Luc Brunel, who co-founded modelling agencies with Epstein, was found dead in his prison cell in 2022, suspected of transporting young women for Epstein. This adds a grim highlight to the complexities surrounding the case.
