A Republican state senator has been arrested on suspicion of soliciting an underage girl.
40-year old Justin Eichorn (R- Grand Rapids) was arrested Monday in Bloomington after allegedly soliciting sex from a detective posing as a sixteen-year old girl online.
Investigators say he arranged to meet her near the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard.
In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (St. Paul) called the allegations against Senator Eichorn deeply disturbing.
"The felony allegation against Senator Eichorn is deeply disturbing, and raises serious questions that will need to be answered by the court, as well as his caucus and constituents,” Murphy said.
Senate Republicans released the following statement regarding reports on the arrest of Sen. Eichorn:
“We are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation. Justin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family.”
Also chiming in was Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash who released a statement:
"As Republicans, we hold elected officials to a higher standard. While Senator Eichorn is entitled to due process, the seriousness of these charges warrants his resignation. Public trust and accountability must come first."
“No one who solicits children belongs anywhere near public office or the State Capitol,” said Minnesota DFL executive director Heidi Kraus Kaplan. “The facts presented by the Bloomington Police Department make it clear that Senator Eichorn is an immediate danger to the public and must resign immediately.”
Eichorn has not been formally charged. He was booked into the Bloomington Police Department jail and will be transported to the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center.
Felony charges of Soliciting Under 18-year old to Practice Prostitution are pending from the Hennepin County Attorney’s office according to a formal release from Bloomington Police.
“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,” Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said in a statement. “I have always advocated stiffer penalties for these types of offenses. We need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”
The arrest of Eichorn comes as the Minnesota Senate has been at odds over another alleged crime, with Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell awaiting trial for attempted burglary charges at her stepmother's home. Mitchell (Woodbury) is also charged with possession of tools related to the break-in. Police say they found a crowbar near an egress window that they believe was used to gain entry into the home.
Republicans in the Senate have attempted to oust Mitchell but with the DFL holding a one-seat edge, so far those attempts have not been successful.