Andrew Left, the prominent short seller behind Citron Research, is set to face a criminal trial in Los Angeles on charges of market manipulation. Federal prosecutors allege that Left used social media to publish misleading stock recommendations from 2018 to 2023, generating over $16 million in illicit profits by trading against his own public positions. Jury selection began on May 11, 2026. The Department of Justice indicted Left in July 2024 on multiple counts of securities fraud and making false statements. Prosecutors claim Left's strategy involved publishing bold takes on stocks like Nvidia, Tesla, and GameStop, then reversing his trades to profit from price swings. Additionally, Left allegedly tipped off hedge funds before releasing his commentary, receiving compensation through fake invoices. If convicted, Left faces up to 25 years in prison. Left maintains his innocence, arguing that his analyses were in good faith and typical of short-seller market research. The SEC has filed a parallel civil suit, estimating Left's gains at $20 million. The trial will scrutinize whether Left's actions constituted market manipulation, focusing on the timing of his trades relative to his public statements.