MN State Senator Arrested Soliciting Girl For Prostitution: Police

BLOOMINGTON, MN — Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday in Bloomington on suspicion of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, was taken into custody around 6 p.m. near the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue.

According to Bloomington police, detectives posed as a 16-year-old girl during online communications with Eichorn and arranged a meeting on Monday.

He was arrested without incident outside his vehicle, MPR News reported.

Eichorn, 40, is married with four children. He was first elected to the Senate in 2016.

Eichorn was arrested Monday hours after he helped introduce a controversial bill seeking to classify "Trump Derangement Syndrome" as a mental illness.

Minnesota Senate Republicans responded to the reports of his arrest with a statement calling for his immediate resignation.

"We are shocked by these reports, and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation," the statement read. "Justin has a difficult road ahead, and he needs to focus on his family."

Speaking for the Minnesota Democratic Party, DFL executive director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said: "No one who solicits children belongs anywhere near public office or the State Capitol."

"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," Kaplan added.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges told the Star Tribune: "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."