Remarkably, most of the men connected to the convicted sex offender have barely experienced any fallout. That says as much as the scandal itself, says Emma Brockes

Still, let’s give it a go. Bill Gates, very much in contact with Epstein from 2011, has suffered no apparent ill effects from the association.

No one expects anything of Steve Bannon, so he’s fine, despite exchanging hundreds of texts and emails with Epstein right up to the year of his death.

Ditto Martin Nowak, the professor of maths and biology who was placed under sanctions by Harvard for two years after the extent of his personal and financial association with Epstein was revealed, but has since had all his privileges restored.

Anyway, Woody Allen! An occasional dining companion of Epstein’s who showed up in the latest Epstein photo dump relaxing with him over coffee and on set, and who recently said of the man: “He couldn’t have been nicer.”

And still among these men the most brazen escaper surely has to be Michael Wolff, the journalist who offered Epstein PR advice while recording more than 100 hours of interviews with him. Wolff has not only escaped unscathed but has successfully leveraged the association by claiming unique insight into Epstein in his endless podcast and social-media appearances.