German countess who called Epstein ‘Daddy’ forged connections at the heart of Whitehall
The German countess, who was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s closest confidants for 20 years, has managed to win a place in Whitehall’s heart.
Nicole Junkermann, 50, resigned as a trustee of a cancer charity last week after her friendship with Epstein was revealed, during which she called him ‘dad’ and ‘baby’.
It was revealed that the glamorous London-based technology investor persuaded the then health minister, Matt Hancock, to appoint him to the government’s influential ‘Health Technologies Advisory Board’ in 2018.
He even attempted to arrange a meeting between Epstein and former prime minister David Cameron.
The former model and entrepreneur has been tasked with creating a ‘culture of innovation’ and guiding the government on its ‘mission to transform technology in the NHS’.
He was photographed standing directly behind Mr Hancock at the board’s inaugural meeting.
Last week Ms Junkermann resigned as a trustee of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Hundreds of emails released by the US Department of Justice suggest that Epstein began corresponding with her in May 2009, two months before he was released from prison after serving 13 months for soliciting sex from 14-year-old girls.
German countess Nicole Junkermann (photo taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012) was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s closest confidants for 20 years. Managed to win a place in the heart of Whitehall
Junkermann (right) persuaded then-health secretary Matt Hancock (centre) to appoint him to the government’s influential ‘Health Technology Advisory Board’ in 2018
Junkermann (left) married Italian Count Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti (right) in 2017. Mr Peretti is part of a wealthy dynasty that controls Italian energy giant API.
In one message, Ms Junkermann described the pedophile financier as ‘Mr Wonderful’ and suggested he visit him when he is released from prison.
A 2003 diary entry read: ‘I can’t sleep, I’m thinking about Jeffrey. There are very few people in my life that I want to spend time with; he’s one of them.’
By 2011, the two appeared to have fallen in love with each other. While talking about an investment he was considering, he asked the embarrassed financier: ‘Dad, how are you? Should I hedge at 1.37 now or wait? Kiss.’
The emails also show that Epstein offered her a job, saying she would “help me a lot.”
In July 2017, Ms. Junkermann married 66-year-old Italian Count Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti.
In 2018 he wrote to Epstein: ‘I’m hosting a lunch for David Cameron on the west coast in March, would you like to attend?’
He continued writing to Epstein until 2019, months before his final arrest and death in custody in New York.
A spokesman for the countess said: ‘Nicole was completely deceived and misled by him [Epstein].’
