Scandal Rocks Minnesota Politics: Sen. Justin Eichorn Arrested for Soliciting a Minor
Minnesota politics just got hit with a bombshell. Sen. Justin Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, was arrested on March 17 for allegedly soliciting a 16-year-old girl for prostitution in Bloomington. The news has sent shockwaves through the state, with calls for his immediate resignation pouring in from both sides of the aisle.
From Lawmaker to Lawbreaker?
Eichorn, 40, was caught in a Bloomington Police sting after he reportedly believed he was communicating with an underage girl. When he arrived at the arranged meeting spot in a pickup truck, law enforcement moved in and arrested him on the spot. He was booked into jail, and while formal charges are still pending, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is expected to move forward with felony charges of soliciting a minor.
The Fallout: “An Immediate Danger to the Public”
The reaction was swift. Republicans distanced themselves from Eichorn almost immediately, with Senate GOP leaders issuing a statement demanding his immediate resignation:
“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.”
Even the Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechasha joined in, stating that while Eichorn is entitled to due process, the seriousness of the charges makes his resignation necessary.
Democrats, meanwhile, were just as blunt. DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan didn’t mince words:
“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.”
And Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges made it crystal clear that Eichorn walked straight into his own nightmare:
“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.”
Hypocrisy at Its Peak?
Adding fuel to the fire, Eichorn made headlines just days before his arrest for introducing a bill that would declare “Trump Derangement Syndrome” a mental illness. Now, the irony is impossible to ignore—while pushing legislation about political ideology, he was allegedly engaging in criminal behavior behind the scenes.
A Political Power Shift in the Making
With the Minnesota Senate currently at a razor-thin 34-33 split in favor of the DFL, Eichorn’s potential resignation could further tip the scales of power toward Democrats. It’s a precarious moment in state politics, especially as DFL State Senator Nicole Mitchell is also embroiled in her own legal troubles stemming from a 2024 burglary case.
The question now is simple: Will Eichorn step down, or will he fight the storm? Either way, this scandal just lit a political firestorm in Minnesota—one that won’t be dying down anytime soon.
