Musk Fails to Redirect Blame as Tesla Critic’s Smear Trial Looms

Elon Musk failed to persuade a judge to let him sue a data journalist for publishing an email by the Tesla Inc. CEO making allegations against an outspoken critic of the company who then sued the billionaire for defamation.

A state court judge in California tentatively ruled that allowing Musk to launch a countersuit would “not further the interest of justice” and likely delay — once again — a planned trial on Randeep Hothi’s claim that he was harassed online after Musk smeared his reputation.

The setback for Musk comes as he is defending himself at a San Francisco ...