DOJ Unveils Massive Epstein File Cache Including Ratner Photo The U.S. Department of Justice made public a multi‑million‑page collection of Epstein‑related documents on 1 February 2026, releasing several photographs that show director Brett Ratner seated beside Jeffrey Epstein and two blurred women on a sofa[2]. One image captures Ratner holding a young woman in an apparent embrace, though the timing and location remain unspecified[2]. The release coincided with the debut of Ratner’s Melania Trump documentary, adding public scrutiny to both the film and the newly disclosed files[2].

Ratner Publicly Refutes Any Personal Connection to Epstein Speaking to Fox News, Ratner asserted he met Epstein only once at an event roughly twenty years ago and that the woman in the picture was his fiancée at the time[1]. He emphasized that he had no contact with Epstein before or after that single encounter and continues to deny any wrongdoing related to past #MeToo accusations[1]. Ratner’s statements aim to distance him from the broader network of individuals identified in the DOJ files[1].

Email Records Indicate Epstein Attempted Contact, No Confirmation of Response DOJ documents include emails from 2010‑2012 in which Epstein’s team sought Ratner’s contact information, a Cannes Festival publicist message, and a 2018 iMessage to Ratner’s assistant[1]. Ratner’s representatives claim none of these communications were received or answered, providing no evidence of a direct response from the director[1]. The lack of a documented reply leaves the extent of any interaction unresolved[1].

Ratner’s Documentary Opens Strongly Despite Critical Panning “Melania: 20 Days to History” opened on the same day the DOJ files were released, earning $7 million (£5.1 million) in its opening weekend, surpassing box‑office forecasts[1]. Critics have largely panned the film, questioning its ties to the Trump administration and its pre‑release funding[1]. The timing of the documentary’s launch with the photo release intensified media focus on Ratner’s past associations[2].

Other Prominent Figures Appear in the Same DOJ Files The released documents also name a range of high‑profile individuals, including the Duke of Edinburgh, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Lord Peter Mandelson, linking them to Epstein’s network[2]. Images feature French modelling agent Jean‑Luc Brunel, who died in a Paris prison in 2022 while under investigation for alleged trafficking of minors for Epstein[2]. No evidence of illegal activity by Ratner or the other photographed individuals has been presented in the files so far[2].