- State Sen. Justin Eichorn was removed from the Minnesota Senate on Thursday following his resignation letter. His resignation comes after he was arrested for allegedly soliciting sex with a minor.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and fellow lawmakers were prepared to expel Eichorn from his position if he didn’t resign.
- A sting operation caught Eichorn allegedly attempting to meet with a minor after responding to an online advertisement.
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Minnesota State Sen. Justin Eichorn resigned from his position representing the Grand Rapids district after being arrested in a Bloomington Police Department operation targeting illegal commercial sex involving minors.
State Sen. Eichorn submits his resignation
Eichorn, a Republican lawmaker, submitted his resignation letter to Gov. Tim Walz. In the resignation letter, Eichorn states the need to “focus on personal matters,” according to The Associated Press. The resignation follows an undercover operation on Monday, March 17, during which local authorities focused on combatting sex crimes involving minors.
Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark T. Johnson confirmed Eichorn’s resignation came just before lawmakers were set to vote on removing him from office.
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In a joint statement, Minnesota Senate Republicans said, “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.”
Senate Minority Leader Johnson further stated that the allegations against Eichorn are supported by strong evidence and involve serious charges.
Undercover operation focused on commercial sex involving juveniles
During the undercover operation, Bloomington Police said Eichorn believed he was communicating with a 17-year-old girl, but the individual on the other end of the conversation was a detective.
The department alleges Eichorn attempted to meet with the alleged teenage girl after responding to an online ad that exchanged sex for money.
Eichorn was arrested on the day of the scheduled meet-up. Eichorn is facing federal charges, including enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution and coercion.
A Minnesota judge has ordered Eichorn to remain at a halfway house, wear a GPS ankle monitor and have no unsupervised contact with minors. The AP also said he’s limited in his use of technology.
A special session will be held to fill his vacant seat in the Minnesota State Senate.
