So he prefers having the Epstein files released closer to the midterms instead of a month ago.

No. He prefers having as much time as possible to try to avoid having a divisive vote on whether to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Part of the job of being Speaker is to try to save your members from hard votes. Part of that job is using the power of setting the agenda to keep hard votes for your side off the agenda, and keep hard votes for the other side on the agenda. This is a hard vote - because even GOP members who are 100% in support of having the Epstein files released will not want to vote for a bill that forces the President (from their party) to do something that the Administration has decided they don't want to do.

BTW, passing the bill out of the House doesn't mean that the files will be released. It might not get a vote in the Senate, it might fail the Senate, it might be vetoed by Trump - or Trump might let the bill pass and just say that parts of it are unconstitutional, a la the frequent practice of W back in the day.