Minnesota GOP Sen. Justin Eichorn arrested after alleged attempt to solicit minor for sex, police say
Police in the Twin Cities say a Minnesota Republican state senator has been arrested for allegedly trying to solicit sex from a minor.
According to Bloomington police, detectives communicated with the man, identified as 40-year-old Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids, who thought he was talking with a teenage girl. Police originally said he thought the girl was 16, then later corrected the age to 17. Eichorn was most recently one of the authors of a bill by Minnesota Senate Republicans to define "Trump derangement syndrome" as a mental illness.
The detective arranged to meet Eichorn Monday on the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue, police say, and Eichorn later arrived in a pickup truck. He was then arrested without incident.
Eichorn was booked into jail Tuesday night and is being held without bail. A felony charge of soliciting a person under 18 years old to practice prostitution was officially filed on Wednesday. He also faces federal charges.
WCCO left a message for Eichorn's legislative assistant Tuesday, but has yet to hear back.
Minnesota Republicans say alleged conduct "demands an immediate resignation"
Minnesota Senate Republicans released a statement in response to Eichorn's arrest.
"We are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation. Justin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family," the statement said.
Minnesota House Republican leaders Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and Leader Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, also released a statement.
"Given the seriousness of the charges, Senator Eichorn should resign. While he is entitled to due process, we must hold legislators to a higher standard," the statement said.
The Minnesota DFL Party released a similar statement, calling for Eichorn's "immediate resignation."
"No one who solicits children belongs anywhere near public office or the State Capitol," Minnesota DFL executive director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said. "The facts presented by the Bloomington Police Department make it clear that Senator Eichorn is an immediate danger to the public and must resign immediately."
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul called the accusations "disturbing."
"The felony allegation against Senator Eichorn is deeply disturbing, and raises serious questions that will need to be answered by the court, as well as his caucus and constituents," Murphy said.
The investigation remains active.
Eichorn is among GOP lawmakers calling for DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign after she was charged with burglary last spring. Her trial is set for June and she has pleaded not guilty.
Last month, Eichorn wrote an opinion piece, published in the Pine and Lakes Echo Journal, criticizing Gov. Tim Walz's budget proposal. In the piece, Eichorn stressed that legislators, in part, must "strengthen families, empower parents and crack down on rampant fraud."
If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.
