Fmr. Sen. Justin Eichorn granted release after prostitution sting arrest
Eichorn released from jail ahead of trial
A federal judge released former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn from jail ahead of his trial for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for commercial sex. FOX 9's Paul Blume has the latest details.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A judge has again granted pre-trial release to former Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn after police say he was caught in a prostitution sting allegedly trying to meet with a teen girl.
Sen. Eichorn returns to court
Fmr. Sen. Justin Eichorn granted pre-trial release
Following a federal court hearing on Wednesday, former Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn was granted a pre-trial release after prosecutors say he was busted as part of a prostitution sting where he allegedly tried to pay a teen girl for sex, and had an associate attempt to take a laptop before investigators could get to it.
What we know:
Eichorn was initially granted release in his first court appearance in the case. However, over the weekend, prosecutors requested a new detention hearing for Eichorn after they said he tried to get an associate to get a laptop from his St. Paul apartment before it could be examined by investigators.
In a filing issued on Sunday, prosecutors said FBI agents had already arrived at the apartment before Eichorn's associate. She asked the authorities if she could retrieve her work laptop from the apartment, which the agents refused.
Inside Eichorn's apartment, prosecutors say they found the laptop, a factory-reset cell phone, and a gun which prosecutors said Eichorn lied about having.
What happened?:
On Wednesday, a judge allowed Eichorn to be released under the previously agreed-upon terms: that he can go to a halfway house, once a bed is available, and he will be placed under GPS monitoring.
During an hours-long hearing on Wednesday, attorneys argued whether Eichorn should be granted pre-trial release.
In court, it was learned that the woman who went to pick up Eichorn's laptop was his wife. According to court documents, the person was only identified as a close associate. During the hearing, it was shared Eichorn and his wife run a property rental business with 130-plus units and the laptop in question is used for the purpose of leases and record keeping.
The defense turned over the password and said there is nothing more than business files on the computer. However, government prosecutors replied that investigators found encrypted files on the device that they haven't been able to open yet, so they don't know what else is on the laptop.
As for a gun found in his St. Paul apartment, Eichorn's defense attorneys argued that it was possible the probation officer who questioned Eichorn misheard his statements. Eichorn does have a conceal and carry permit, and the defense said that recently introduced legislation by Eichorn had led to some threats against him.
The defense attorney clarified the bill to define "Trump Derangement Syndrome" as a mental illness in Minnesota is the legislation that led to some threats. Eichorn was a co-author of that bill and the news of the bill made national headlines shortly before Eichorn was arrested.
As for the factory-reset iPhone, it was an iPhone 6 that's 10-plus years old with no charge. An early investigation shows it was reset in February before Eichorn's arrest. The judge was not moved that the phone is incriminating.
Bloomington PD operation 'I Can't Help Myself' [RAW]
Bloomington police chief Booker Hodges held a press conference Monday regarding the minor prostitution sting, called operation "I Can't Help Myself," that led to the arrest and charges of nine people, including former Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn.
Bloomington prostitution sting
The backstory:
Bloomington police said Eichorn was among 14 men arrested in a prostitution sting this month.
Officers say Eichorn was texting with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl. In the text conversation, police say Eichorn haggled the rate, asked how much it would cost to have sex without a condom, and asked for a photo of the girl.
What they found:
After he was arrested, police found two cell phones, a box of condoms, and $129 in cash in his vehicle.
Justin Eichorn resigns from MN State Senate
Hours before lawmakers were set for a vote to expel him, former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn resigned amid allegations of attempting to solicit an underage prostitute. FOX 9's Corin Hoggard spoke live on All Day with the latest.
Senator Eichorn resigns
Timeline:
Eichorn texted over the course of several days between March 11 and March 17 to arrange an encounter with the girl. Ultimately, officers said when he arrived to meet with the girl, he was arrested by officers.
Eichorn's arrest was made public on March 18. Over the next two days, he faced pressure from both sides of the aisle to resign as a state senator.
On the evening of March 19, Minnesota Senate Republicans said they would motion to expel Eichorn from the Senate the following morning. Before that motion could be heard, Eichorn submitted his letter of resignation before that Senate session.
This week, his wife filed for divorce.
What's next:
In court, a judge will decide whether Eichorn should remain locked up as he faces trial. Initially, Eichorn was set to be released to a halfway house on Tuesday.
Currently, Eichorn remains in federal custody in the Sherburne County Jail.