ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a rapid turn of events, a Republican Minnesota state senator, Justin Eichorn, has stepped down following allegations of soliciting a minor for prostitution. Eichorn’s resignation was announced through a brief email to Governor Tim Walz, indicating his need to focus on personal matters. “It has been an honor to serve in the Minnesota Senate,” Eichorn stated in his message.
Eichorn’s departure comes amid an undercover investigation in Bloomington designed to crack down on commercial sex involving minors. Arrested during the sting operation on Monday, he now faces charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins has ordered that Eichorn be released to a halfway house equipped with GPS monitoring once space is available. Further restrictions include no unsupervised interaction with minors and limited, supervised access to digital devices. Eichorn has not yet entered a plea, with his next court date scheduled for Wednesday.
While his desk in the Senate chamber sat empty, Senate minority and majority leaders expressed relief at his decision to step down. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson emphasized the importance of a swift resolution to prevent the scandal from overshadowing critical legislative work such as budget discussions. Johnson remarked, “This would’ve been a cloud hanging over the Senate. We don’t need another one of those. So now we’re able to get back to work.”
Details from charging documents reveal that investigators posted multiple online ads offering sex for money. It was through these ads Eichorn arranged to meet what he thought was a 17-year-old girl, only to find himself caught in the sting operation. Following his arrest, authorities confiscated two cell phones, a condom, and $129 in cash.
Six others were also arrested in the operation, and the decision to have federal authorities handle the case has raised questions, although federal prosecutor LeeAnn Bell declined to expand on this aspect following Thursday’s hearing. Federal defender Aaron Morrison, who represented Eichorn briefly, noted Eichorn is in the process of hiring private legal counsel.
Eichorn’s Senate profile, which is no longer available online, described him as married with four children and listed his profession as entrepreneur. First elected in 2016, he recently gained some national attention sponsoring a bill suggesting “Trump derangement syndrome” be recognized as a mental illness.
Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat who had also pushed for Eichorn’s resignation, is expected to call a special session to fill the now-vacant seat. Eichorn’s district, known for its strong support of President Donald Trump in the November election, remains politically significant. Until then, Democrats will hold a two-seat majority in the Senate.
In light of calls for Eichorn’s resignation, some have criticized Senate Democrats for reportedly safeguarding Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell, who faces a felony charge for allegedly burglarizing her estranged stepmother’s residence. Democratic leaders maintain that Mitchell’s legal proceedings must be allowed to unfold appropriately. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy articulated relief over Eichorn’s resignation, noting that allowing his return could have jeopardized the safety of interns and Senate employees. Murphy commented, “It is hard to conceive of a way that Mr. Eichorn could have returned to this Capitol to operate in any way other than putting others at risk. It is a night and day situation, and they’re not comparable.”