No Stupid Questions

I imagine that there's no real consensus response to what you've asked, given that the official reasons are pretty murky. My take, for what it's worth at least:

Epstein was likely connected to Israel. From bits and pieces that've been reported about timelines and from the email archives, it seems like he sold information to both Israel and Russia -- typically blackmail material for use as leverage against people in key positions in politics / business. Many of the later emails relating to Trump, appeared to talk about the dirt Epstein had on Trump, and efforts to potentially sell it to others.

This blackmail material, combined with the massive amount of money thrown at US gov candidates by things like AIPAC, results in 'close ties' between the US Govt and Israeli interests. Basically, to control Americas government, if you can 'buy' a majority of the candidates via PAC funding or blackmail material, you can control the overall tone and direction of America's international politics.

In terms of 'why now' and what they gain....

So the Epstein files note above is just 'another nail' in the common american's support for Israel -- even before those links were made more apparent, public opinion had largely soured due to the brutal treatment of Palestinians. Israel as a state has been increasingly an apartheid regime -- mostly in its alignment to far right fascist motifs involving xenophobia. The US right also aligns with this general sentiment -- the people currently in the administration, for example, practically all cheer on figures like Jack Posobiec, who romanticizes figures such as Spain's Franco, a fascist dictator who literally came to power with the backing of Hitler. They maintain this notion that 'they' are the sole custodians of civilization, so any atrocity they commit against 'others' is justified and right. So timing-wise, it's definitely best to do this sort of thing with Trump's administration in power -- they'll be gleeful willing accomplices, no need for much convincing.

Also entering in to the arena, would be the emergence of powers like China, and the perceived deterioration of the USA's global influence. Israel as a state, exists because of the USA -- Trump likes to say that about Canada, but Canada doesn't really have a bunch of neighbours (other than the USA) that want Canada dead for having a history of "pre-emptive strikes" and so on. If the USA were to fall into significant decline, Israel's existence would be in clear jeopardy. In order to survive, Israel likely needed to trigger a conflict before America's hegemony deteriorated too far -- to survive without a 'singular' military hegemony's backing, Israel needs to have the entire power dynamic of the middle east destroyed and remade with them as the defacto/unchallenged 'power' of the region.

Add in to the mix the Tech bro oligarchs, who all want their own baronies -- or 'free cities' as they like to call them. These folks actively bank roll efforts to destabilize states. Their reasons seem to vary a tiny bit, but the end result/drive is the same: they want to have the ability to control cities/people, without worrying about government controls/oversight/regulations, because "they know best". So they're completely in alignment with the other areas in which we're seeing dramatic increases in authoritarian traits. So there's practically unlimited money available for any sort of atrocity that can benefit the richest 0.1% at the expense of everyone else.

Most of what's above speaks to the conditions that set the stage for the event.

As for the very specific timing, it's still highly likely that Trump is just trying to mute the Epstein stuff. What he gains is less coverage of Epstein. He is America's dictator, so what benefits him, benefits America. That simple.