Justin Eichorn resigns from MN Senate after minor prostitution sting
Justin Eichorn resigns from MN Senate: Latest
One day after being charged with soliciting an underage minor for sex, Justin Eichorn has resigned from the Minnesota Senate. FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard has the latest developments.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids), has submitted a letter of resignation after he was charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution during a sting in Bloomington earlier this month.
Sen. Eichorn resigns from Minnesota Senate
What we know:
After charges were released against Eichorn on Wednesday, Senate GOP leaders said they would make the motion on Thursday morning to expel Eichorn.
The expulsion, which had bipartisan support, would have been the first in the state’s history.
"There is no question that these charges merit expulsion. We owe it to the public to hold our members to the highest standards, and this violation of the public trust is so severe we must act. It is my hope that this quick resolution gives Senator Eichorn time to focus on his family," a statement from Republican Leader Mark Johnson on Wednesday night said.
Johnson and other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for Eichorn to resign.
Eichorn is currently being held in Hennepin County Jail on a hold by federal authorities.
He was initially charged in Hennepin County Court, but that case has been dismissed in lieu of a federal case against him.
MN GOP responds to Justin Eichorn resignation
MN Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson responds to Justin Eichorn's resignation following minor prostitution charges from a sting in Bloomington. Johnson said there’s a "line in the sand" after the accusations, GOP members are "taking decisive action" and now plan to move forward this legislative session.
A copy Eichorn's resignation letter obtained by FOX 9 can be found below:
A copy Eichorn's resignation letter obtained by FOX 9
Eichorn arrested for soliciting a minor
The backstory:
Bloomington police say Eichorn responded to a bogus prostitution ad they set up online targeting people seeking minors for sex.
Officers say Eichorn responded to one of the ads and began a text conversation with an undercover officer pretending to be a 17-year-old girl.
Around 9 p.m. on March 11, Eichorn checked with the girl to see if she was available. He tried again the following day.
Sen. Eichorn allegedly reached out again on March 13 and March 17, asking about rates and availability. At one point, police say he asked for photos of the girl and how much for sex without a condom, while haggling the rates he would pay.
When Eichorn ultimately showed up for the meet-up, he was arrested.
During a search, police found two cell phones, a box of condoms, and $129 in cash in his vehicle.
MN Sen. Eichorn solicited minor for sex: Charges
Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn was charged in state and federal court on Wednesday, accused of soliciting a minor for sex. Political expert Michael Brodkorb breaks down the charges and compares Eichorn's arrest to Sen. Nicole Mitchell's case, who faces charges in a burglary of her stepmom's home.
Who is Sen. Eichorn?
Dig deeper:
Minnesota records show Sen. Eichorn was first elected in 2016 and is currently representing Minnesota Senate District 6, which includes Cass, Crow Wing and Itasca counties, with his term ending in 2027.
He serves on the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee, in addition to the Finance Committee and the State and Local Government Committee.
Eichorn is a Republican who made headlines earlier this week for being a sponsor of a bill that would declare "Trump derangement syndrome" a mental illness. He introduced that bill the same day he was arrested, records show.
His state senate bio says he is married with four children.
According to Eichorn's senate campaign site, he proclaims himself as "being pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and in favor of a fiscally conservative government."
Minnesota legislative records also show he unsuccessfully ran for District 5B of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014.
Erasing Eichorn
Expelling his existence:
Eichorn’s name plate was removed from his desk and his name was taken off the voting board.
He resigned his Senate seat without ever leaving jail. If he hadn’t, his colleagues might’ve made history.
"Senate Republicans were prepared to expel former senator Justin Eichorn," said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, (R-East Grand Forks), after the momentous Thursday floor session.
As far as legislative librarians know, no Minnesota legislator has ever been expelled.
But Senate Republicans were ready to make Eichorn the first after reading the criminal complaints against him, including evidence of his fluency in the language used by sex workers.
DFL Senate struggle
Not all cases the same:
And while Democrats have said Sen. Nicole Mitchell, (DFL-Woodbury), deserves due process in her burglary case, they agreed the allegations against Eichorn rise to a higher level, worthy of expulsion without a conviction.
"This is perhaps the most unusual year that I've experienced in the Minnesota legislature," said Majority Leader Erin Murphy, (DFL-St. Paul). "And these last two days have been the most disgusting, disappointing and difficult days."
Eichorn's last day
From bills to bail:
On the same day as his arrest, Eichorn authored one bill to label Trump Derangement Syndrome as a mental illness and another to ban trans athletes.
The married father of four pleaded not guilty to felony charges in federal court Thursday afternoon and will be released to a halfway house when a bed is available, and he won't have to post bail.
He's not allowed unsupervised contact with children and he'll have to wear a GPS monitor and give up his passport pending trial.
A special election to replace him in the Senate should happen late next month.