Minnesota State Senator Faces Serious Allegations Involving a Minor

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from a minor, leading to his resignation and widespread condemnation from both political parties.

Key Takeaways

Republican Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn has been charged with federal crimes related to soliciting a minor after being arrested in an FBI sting operation.
Eichorn allegedly arranged to pay for sex with someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
Police found cash and an unopened condom in Eichorn’s possession when he arrived at the arranged meeting location in Bloomington.
Following his arrest, Eichorn resigned from office under pressure from both Republican and Democratic officials.
Eichorn’s case is now proceeding in federal court, with charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution.

Federal Charges Filed After Undercover Sting Operation

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn, a 40-year-old Republican from Grand Rapids, was arrested by the FBI after allegedly attempting to solicit sex from someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl. The arrest occurred in Bloomington as part of a larger undercover operation targeting commercial sex involving juveniles. According to federal documents, Eichorn responded to online advertisements placed by investigators and proceeded to exchange messages with an undercover officer posing as a teenage girl, ultimately arranging to pay for sexual services.

The federal affidavit contains explicit text messages allegedly sent by Eichorn to the undercover officer, showing his awareness of the purported girl’s age and his intent to engage in sexual activity. Bloomington police arrested Eichorn near the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue when he arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location in his pickup truck. He was taken into custody without incident, with officers finding evidence including cash and an unopened condom in his possession.

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

Immediate Political Fallout

Following his arrest, Eichorn faced immediate pressure to resign from office. Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson made it clear that the party would not tolerate such behavior, especially from an elected official. Senate Republicans planned to expel Eichorn had he not voluntarily stepped down. The severity of the charges and the evidence presented prompted swift action from both sides of the political aisle. Eichorn, who was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016, is married with four children.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges delivered a stern message following the arrest, emphasizing the department’s commitment to protecting minors from exploitation, “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,” stated the police. Democratic Governor Tim Walz joined Republican lawmakers in calling for Eichorn’s resignation, making it clear that such alleged behavior would not be tolerated regardless of political affiliation. The bipartisan condemnation underscores the seriousness with which public officials view crimes against minors.

Legal Proceedings and Law Enforcement Response

Eichorn was initially charged in Hennepin County District Court with soliciting prostitution from a minor over the age of 16. However, those charges were dismissed as the case moved to federal court, where he now faces the more serious charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. The federal charge carries potentially severe penalties. Eichorn is currently being held in Hennepin County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court for his initial hearing.

Federal authorities have emphasized their zero-tolerance approach to crimes involving the exploitation of minors, especially when committed by public officials. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office issued statements reinforcing their commitment to protecting children from predators, going on to say, “The actions alleged in this case are an appalling attempt to exploit an innocent and vulnerable minor. The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting children from predators who seek to harm them. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the threat of exploitation.” The sting operation that caught Eichorn also resulted in the arrest of six other suspects, highlighting the broader law enforcement effort to combat child exploitation and sex trafficking in Minnesota.