Charge: State Sen. Justin Eichorn had cash, condom when snared in undercover teen prostitution sting

Amid swift and emphatic demands for his resignation, Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn was charged in state and federal court Wednesday afternoon with soliciting prostitution from a Twin Cities police detective posing as a 17-year-old girl.

Eichorn, 40, of Grand Rapids, was arrested Monday in Bloomington, where he allegedly thought he was meeting a girl to pay her for sex.

He was initially charged in Hennepin County District Court with a felony count of soliciting prostitution from a minor over the age of 16. The criminal complaint alleges that he showed up with a condom and enough money to pay for what he believed was going to be 30 minutes of sex.

Moments after the state filed its case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced it has charged Eichorn with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

With Eichorn being charged federally, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office is dismissing its case, as is standard under these circumstances. Moriarty said Eichorn was among six others who were charged in connection with the undercover operation. They have not yet been charged in federal court.

“These are serious allegations against Senator Eichorn as well as the other individuals charged as a result of this undercover operation,” Moriarty said in a statement. “There is an understandable interest in Senator Eichorn’s case because of his position, but, in accordance with our policy, we will not be sharing further details.”

Eichorn remains jailed ahead of an appearance Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in St. Paul. Court records do not yet list an attorney for the Republican legislator, who has been in office since 2017.

One day after Eichorn’s arrest, the Senate Republican Caucus and GOP leadership in the State House called for him to give up his seat immediately. Voices from across the partisan aisle also pushed for him to resign.

Neither Eichorn nor anyone from his office have commented about the allegations or his political future since his arrest.

According to both state and federal criminal complaints and police:

Eichorn texted a phone number in an online ad on March 11 that was placed by police as part of an undercover prostitution operation, according to the criminal complaint and police.

He asked the undercover officer whether she was available that night. He got no reply and asked again that same night, “What’s a guy gotta do to get the hottest girl online tonight.”

He texted her again on March 12. After this third try, the officer responded that she was available.

Eichorn asked for her rates and her location. She asked what he wanted, and Eichorn said, “Qv or hhr,” meaning a quick visit or a half-hour of her time for sex.

The officer texted rates of $80 to $120. Eichorn asked her age, and she said she was younger than the ad disclosed and was 17. Police initially said the officer was posing as a 16-year-old. On March 13, Eichorn inquired again about her availability for a half-hour.

He kept up his effort on Monday to connect with her and discussed “age of consent” for a minor to engage in sex, and he requested “a naught[y] pic” including one with “lot less clothes.” He also inquired about him not using a condom.

Eichorn continued texting about her age and disclosed his belief that the “age of consent is 16 … over 18 is in a position of authority over you like a teacher or friend’s parent.”

Eichorn was given an address where they could meet, near the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard, not far from various public parks and hotels. He arrived in a pickup truck and was arrested without incident outside his vehicle by a uniformed police officer about 5:45 p.m. Monday.

Police searched his pickup truck and seized two cellphones, a condom in the driver’s side door and $129 in cash. Law enforcement intends to search the phones for further evidence.

In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick said, “I am grateful to the Bloomington Police Department, to the FBI, and to all law enforcement officers who use undercover operations to identify and arrest child sex predators to prevent them from abusing real children.”

Minneapolis FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston said in his statement, “The actions alleged in this case are an appalling attempt to exploit an innocent and vulnerable minor.”

Eichorn is the second Minnesota lawmaker to face felony charges this session. Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, is charged with two felonies in connection with breaking into her late father’s Detroit Lakes home. She has pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools.

Republicans in the Senate have filed ethics complaints tied to the alleged burglary and to Mitchell’s vote in January on a motion connected to a GOP effort to expel her. That effort failed to gain traction in the Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct last week.

The DFL holds a slim majority in the Senate with 34 seats to the GOP’s 33.

One of Eichorn’s most recent official legislative acts was being among five Senate Republicans who are seeking to classify “Trump derangement syndrome” (TDS), a term coined to describe a form of criticism of President Donald Trump, as an official mental illness recognized under state statute.

Eichorn joined the Senate first representing District 5 starting in 2017, and currently District 6 following redistricting. In 2022, he easily won re-election over DFLer Steve Samuelson.

According to the 40-year-old legislator’s biography page, Eichorn is married with four children. He lists his occupation as an entrepreneur and business manager.

Allison Kite and Ryan Faircloth of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.