Minnesota state senator resigns after he was charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, has resigned from his position after being charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution. The resignation came before the Senate could vote on whether to expel him from office. Eichorn submitted his resignation to Governor Tim Walz, citing personal matters that needed his attention. His former colleagues expressed relief at the decisive action taken.

Eichorn, 40, was arrested in an undercover sting operation targeting commercial sex involving juveniles. He has been in jail since his arrest in Bloomington on Monday. At his first court appearance, Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ordered his release to a halfway house with GPS monitoring once a space becomes available. He was instructed to have no unsupervised contact with minors and limited access to computers and the internet.

The charges against Eichorn are severe, and the evidence presented in the case was deemed damning by Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson. His colleagues were prepared to vote him out before his resignation. Eichorn had engaged in text messages with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl, leading to his arrest during a meet-up arranged through the exchange.

The federal charge against Eichorn is attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. He is one of seven suspects arrested in the sting operation. Eichorn, a married father of four, listed his profession as an entrepreneur and was first elected in 2016. His district heavily supported President Donald Trump in the November election.

The resignation of Eichorn leaves a vacant seat in the Senate, requiring a special session to fill the position. Senate Democrats now hold a two-seat majority until the seat is filled. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell, who was arrested last spring on a felony charge but has not been expelled from office. Democratic leaders have defended Mitchell, stating that she deserves due process before any decisions are made.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy emphasized the difference between Eichorn’s case and Mitchell’s, noting that Eichorn’s return to the Capitol would have posed a risk to interns and other employees. While Eichorn’s resignation has been accepted, the controversy surrounding his case and its implications for the Senate continue to be a topic of discussion among lawmakers.