Texas man pleads guilty in threats against Maryland doctor who advocated COVID-19 vaccines

A Texas man has pleaded guilty to threatening a Maryland doctor who has been a prominent advocate for COVID-19 vaccines, The Baltimore Sun reported.  

According to his plea agreement, Scott Eli Harris of Aubrey, Texas, sent a number of threatening email messages to former Baltimore health commissioner Leana Wen, who is also a recurring medical analyst on CNN. 

“Never going to take your wonder drug. My 12-gauge promises I won’t,” Harris wrote in one email to Wen. “I’m a 5th generation U.S. Army veteran and a sniper. I can’t wait for the shooting to start.”

Harris also demanded in his email to know where Wen’s office is, according to the Baltimore Sun. 

Harris’s attorney, public defender Elizabeth Oyer, said he is embarrassed by his actions. 

“Mr. Harris is embarrassed by his conduct and sincerely apologizes for the harm he has caused,” Oyer said after a Monday court hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham said Wen forwarded Harris’s email to federal authorities, leading to an investigation in which authorities traced the email address and messages back to Harris’s cellphone, the Sun reported.

Harris, 51, is facing up to five years in federal prison. His sentencing is set for April 21, according to The Associated Press.