Trump Abruptly Cancels Jan. 6 Speech - Then Rants About Capitol Riot Probe

Former President Trump has abruptly scrapped a planned news conference on the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump had planned to use Thursday’s speech at Mar-a-Lago as counterprogramming for a scheduled prayer service at the Capitol to commemorate the events of Jan. 6.

In a statement, Trump railed against the House select committee charged with investigating the Jan. 6 riot, blaming it for the cancellation.

“In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and instead will discuss many of those important topics at my rally on Saturday, January 15th, in Arizona – It will be a big crowd!” he said.

Trump was expected to use the Thursday speech to repeat his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through widespread voter fraud and to criticize the House select committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to certify President Biden’s electoral win.

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President Donald J. Trump:

"In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and instead will discuss… pic.twitter.com/DJ2SZKs2BJ

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 4, 2022

Documents recently published by the January 6th Unselect Committee reveal how Trump’s allies planned a campaign to intimidate election officials and spread voter fraud falsehoods, while another appeared to call for the seizure of “evidence” in service of his false claims that propelled the attack and his spurious bid to overturn election results.

In recent weeks, the committee has accelerated its probe into the attack, fueled by conspiracy theories that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, and a violent attempt to reject the votes of millions of Americans.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks to mark one year since the attack. At the Capitol, lawmakers will hold a memorial service.