Icahn, Under Federal Investigation, Blasts Short Seller

Photo: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg

Carl Icahn, an activist investor, went on the offensive against the short seller who likely sparked the federal investigation. He accused the short seller of 'wantonly damaging property and harming civilians'.

Hindenburg Research, a short seller, targeted Icahn Enterprises, a publicly traded company controlled by Mr. Icahn in the first few days of this month. Icahn Enterprises said that the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York called the next day to ask for information on the value of the company's assets, corporate governance and dividends, among other things.