A Stock Market Gambler's Legal Battle

Andrew Left, a well-known figure in the world of short selling, is in hot water. A judge recently said no to his attempt to get a criminal case thrown out. The case claims he cheated to mess with stock prices. The judge didn't give a long explanation. He just said no to Left's argument that the government was picking on him because he's known for saying bad things about stocks. This isn't the first time Left has tried to get out of this mess. Earlier, another judge said no to his attempt to dismiss a related case from the Securities and Exchange Commission.Left makes money by betting on stocks going down. He uses social media and TV to share his thoughts. But the government says he's not just sharing opinions. They say he's trying to make money from quick price changes, whether up or down. The government claims Left and his company made at least $16 million over five years by manipulating stocks like American Airlines, Nvidia, Tesla, and Twitter. Left says he's not guilty. If he's found guilty, he could spend 25 years in prison. His lawyers argue that the government doesn't like that he makes money by saying negative things about stocks. But they say the government can't punish someone just for speaking their mind. A trial is set for March 2026. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.