GOP eyes expelling Eichorn from Minnesota Senate over solicitation of a minor charge
Sen. Justin Eichorn expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon
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A Republican state senator responded to an online prostitution ad when he tried to set up an encounter with a minor during a law enforcement sting operation in Bloomington, according to criminal charging documents filed Wednesday.
Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, initially faced both state and federal charges. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office later said it would drop the state charges in deference to the federal case.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said that Republicans met privately on Wednesday and decided they will move to expel him.
“There is no question that these charges merit expulsion,” Johnson said. “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.”
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Forty-five votes would be needed to oust Eichorn from the 67-member Senate. As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, 32 Republicans were seen as likely to vote for expulsion and at least six DFLers have called on him to resign.
Johnson said he’d not been in contact with Eichorn since his arrest.
Details emerge in charging documents
Eichorn was arrested Monday in Bloomington, about a week after authorities say he made initial contact with the number listed in the online prostitution ad. A joint law enforcement operation was targeting attempted sexual exploitation of minors.
The federal charge carries a 10-year mandatory minimum if he's convicted. That’s more severe than penalties in state law.
Federal authorities were involved in the operation, which was aimed at preventing child exploitation.
According to the federal complaint, the person responding to the texts — a detective — informed Eichorn that she was 17 years old. Eichorn made additional contact and set up a meeting for Monday, the charging document alleges.
One text exchange cited in the federal complaint says the person alleged to be Eichorn asked how old the person on the other end was.
“I am 17 … like I said don’t want any drama but wanna be upfront cause one guy got hella mad at me,” the reply read.
The follow-up message attached to Eichorn was: “Why was he so mad? I think age of consent is 17 when do ya turn 18?”
In the exchanges, which occurred over several days, there were also requests for explicit photos and discussion of the types of sexual conduct being sought.
Eichorn allegedly had cash, a condom and two cell phones with him when he was arrested.
The federal complaint alleges that as law enforcement officers approached Eichorn they observed him “manipulating his phone and discarding it in his vehicle,” a white truck registered to him that the lawmaker drove to the meeting spot.
Eichorn remained jailed in Hennepin County as of Wednesday afternoon. Bail had been listed at $75,000 earlier in the day but by late afternoon the hold sheet had been updated to note that he was under a federal hold that didn’t include a bail option. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Attempts to reach Eichorn or an attorney for him have been unsuccessful.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Wednesday said it has filed charges against six other people for similar crimes, as a result of the same undercover operation in Bloomington.
Bipartisan calls for Eichorn to leave Senate
Gov. Tim Walz also said that Eichorn should step down following the charge. He thanked Bloomington police for their work on the investigation.
“I don’t think Sen. Eichorn cares much what I say but I think he should resign,” Walz said. “This is a very serious crime.”
While individual members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have called for Eichorn to resign, the caucus overall hasn’t been full-throated in their response.
Many in the caucus previously defended DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s right to due process as she’s faced charges related to an alleged burglary at her stepmother’s home. The trial in Mitchell’s case won’t happen until after the legislative session.
Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, drew a distinction between the two.
“I am appalled by the attempts to conflate Eichorn’s alleged crimes with anything else a member has done. Every reasonable person knows the difference between those acts and the solicitation of a minor,” she said in a written statement. “Justin Eichorn should resign from the jail cell where he thankfully resides as soon as humanly possible.”
The state Republican Party issued a statement Wednesday saying Eichorn must go by some means.
“We urge the DFL Senate to join those demanding Senator Eichorn step down,” the party said in a social media post. “If he refuses, he must be expelled immediately.”
Eichorn is in his third term.