Trump Cancels Jan. 6 News Conference on Capitol Riot Anniversary

(Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a news conference he had scheduled to coincide with observances of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, saying he'd provide comments instead at a rally planned for Jan. 15 in Arizona.

Trump didn't specifically say why he was canceling the event at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida that he announced on Dec. 21 but in a statement on Tuesday accused the news media and the House committee investigating the deadly attack of “total bias and dishonesty.”

In a statement last month to announce the press conference, Trump suggested that his comments would likely center around his false claims that widespread voting fraud was the cause for his Nov. 2020 loss to Joe Biden. He has criticized Republicans who have not publicly supported those claims. 

Earlier: Capitol Riot Panel Weighs Televised Hearings During Prime Time

Politico reported on Tuesday night that the cancellation occurred after several Republican senators, in interviews, expressed misgivings because the event could force them to again confront his false scenario of a stolen election.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris plan to speak at the Capitol on Thursday morning, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has scheduled events including testimonials from lawmakers about their experience during the attack.

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