Andrew Left Loses Second Bid to Toss Criminal Case Over Trades

A US judge denied short-seller Andrew Left’s request to toss out the criminal case against him over his trading activity on the grounds that it was a “selective prosecution” that targeted his online speech.

A two-page order issued Monday by US District Judge Terry J. Hatter in Los Angeles did not explain the reason for the motion being rejected. An earlier bid by Left to dismiss the charges on different grounds was denied by the same judge in July. Trial is set for March 17.

Andrew Left in 2015.

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg

Left, whose stock tips were closely watched by thousands of investors, was charged ...