Unexpected Legal Trouble for Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn faces serious federal charges after allegedly trying to pay for sex with someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover officer in a sting operation targeting those seeking to exploit minors.

Quick Takes

Republican State Senator Justin Eichorn was arrested after allegedly arranging to pay for sex with someone he thought was a 17-year-old girl.
Eichorn was caught in an undercover sting operation and arrested with cash and a condom in his possession.
He faces federal charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution.
Senate Republicans planned to expel him, but Eichorn resigned from his position following the arrest.
Six other suspects were also arrested in the same operation targeting those seeking commercial sex with minors.

Arrest Details and Charges

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn, 40, was arrested by Bloomington police near the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue after arriving at a location where he allegedly planned to meet with someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl. The Republican lawmaker from Grand Rapids was taken into custody without incident as part of an undercover operation specifically targeting individuals seeking commercial sex with juveniles. Authorities discovered cash and an unopened condom in Eichorn’s pickup truck at the time of his arrest, items consistent with his alleged intentions.

Eichorn now faces federal charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. Though initially charged in Hennepin County District Court, the county attorney’s office dismissed state charges as the case will proceed in federal court instead. The charge carries potential penalties far more severe than the state-level charges would have imposed. Eichorn was among seven individuals arrested during the operation, though he was the only public official caught in the sting.

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn (R) has officially RESIGNED after he was arrested for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for prostitution.

He was texting who he thought was a 17-year-old girl for s*x but it was really an undercover officer. pic.twitter.com/4H5fCvJyFo

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 20, 2025

Evidence and Communication Details

According to court documents, Eichorn responded to online advertisements placed by investigators and subsequently exchanged text messages with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl. The affidavit details incriminating messages from Eichorn that clearly indicate his awareness of the purported minor’s age and his intent to engage in illegal activity. The FBI reports that these communications included requests for explicit photos and arrangements to pay for sexual activities, establishing a clear pattern of attempted exploitation.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges was unequivocal in his condemnation, calling for stronger penalties for such offenses,”As a 40-year-old man, if you come to the Orange Jumpsuit District looking to have sex with someone’s child, you can expect that we are going to lock you up,” remarked Hodges. The arrest was part of a coordinated effort between local law enforcement and federal authorities to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.

Political Fallout

Eichorn, who is married with four children and was first elected to the state Senate in 2016, has now resigned from his position following the arrest. Before his resignation, Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson announced plans to expel Eichorn from the state Senate due to the severity of the allegations. The expulsion would have required a two-thirds majority vote, but became unnecessary when Eichorn stepped down voluntarily as pressure mounted from all political directions.

The swift and unified response came from both sides of the political aisle. Senate and House Republicans immediately distanced themselves from Eichorn, while Democratic Governor Tim Walz also called for his resignation, “that you cannot prey on our children and expect to get away with it,” emphasized Walz. Federal authorities, including Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick and FBI Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr., have reinforced their commitment to prosecuting public officials who violate laws designed to protect children from exploitation.

Eichorn’s initial court appearance has been scheduled, though court records did not list an attorney representing him. He currently remains in custody at the Hennepin County Jail as the case proceeds through the federal court system. The scandal represents a significant blow to Minnesota Republicans, who have lost a sitting state senator under circumstances that have generated nationwide attention.