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Local Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Threats Against COVID-19 Advocate and Doctor

Dr. Leana Wen
Photo of Dr. Leana Wen | Image by Hotchcolita / Wikimedia

Scott Eli Harris reportedly sent threatening messages to a doctor in Maryland who is a known advocate for the COVID-19 vaccine and frequently contributes to CNN.

Harris pleaded guilty on February 7 for “willfully transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure,” according to a news release. He is facing $250,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

Harris is fifty-one-years-old and from Aubrey. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the plea hearing, statements, and documents combined show proof of evidence that Harris sent messages to the doctor from his cell phone.

The Insider reported that Dr. Leana Wen received an email from Harris in July 2021. Wen forwarded the email to the FBI, which in turn was traced and led them to Harris in Texas.

The FBI discovered he sent the email through his cell phone, according to The Baltimore Sun.

According to Wikipedia, Wen is a medical analyst who frequently contributes to CNN, writes columns for The Washington Post, and used to be the Health Commissioner for Baltimore.

Harris’ initial appearance in court was on October 13, 2021 in Plano. Court documents show that some of his threats to Wen included, “Never going to take your wonder drug. My 12 gauge promises I won’t. I’m a 5th generation U.S. Army veteran and a sniper… I can’t wait for the shooting to start.”

He also used ethnic slurs towards Wen’s Asian-American race.

FBI’s Baltimore Field Office Special Agent in Charge, Thomas J. Sobocinski mentioned, “These threats are taken very seriously and the response to them is an example of the FBI’s dedication to keeping our community safe. No one should live in fear for doing their job. Posting a threat online, through mail or over the phone is a crime and comes with consequences, whether or not the person intended to carry out the threat.”

According to CBS DFW, Harris’ sentencing date is scheduled for April 21. Elizabeth Oyer, Harris’ attorney, told The Baltimore Sun, “Mr. Harris is embarrassed by his conduct and sincerely apologizes for the harm he caused.”

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