Wife Of Ex-MN Senator Files For Divorce After Child Sex Charge

ITASCA COUNTY, MN — Brittany Eichorn, the wife of former Minnesota State Sen. Justin Eichorn, filed for divorce Monday in Itasca County District Court a week after her husband was charged in federal court with attempting to solicit a minor for sex.

The divorce case was filed under "dissolution with child." Court records show Justin Eichorn is representing himself, while Brittany Eichorn is represented by attorney Jay Ramos.

Together, the couple has four children.

State prosecutors dismissed a prostitution of a minor charge against Eichorn after federal authorities filed a more serious charge in U.S. District Court.

Eichorn, 40, now faces a federal count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor — a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.

The dropped state charge — attempting to hire someone he reasonably believed was between 16 and 18 for sex — only carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine under

Eichorn was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016. He submitted his resignation in a brief email to Gov. Tim Walz last week, saying: "I must focus on personal matters at this time. It has been an honor to serve in the Minnesota Senate."