Minnesota Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
The Bloomington Police Department said they communicated with a man who thought he was talking to a 16-year-old girl and arranged to meet on Monday.
Eichorn was arrested after arriving near the scheduled meeting point at 8300 block of Normandale Avenue.
He was booked at the Bloomington Police Department jail on suspicion of soliciting a minor for sex. He was transferred to the Hennepin County jail on Tuesday.
Eichorn has not been formally charged, but felony charges of soliciting an under 18 year old to practice prostitution are pending from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, a press release said.
Eichorn, 40, is married with four children, according to his Minnesota State Senate bio.
He made national headlines recently after co-sponsoring a legislation that would amend Minnesota state’s statutes to add ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ (TDS) as a recognized form of mental illness.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement, “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.”
“We are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation,” the Senate Republican Caucus said in a joint statement Tuesday. “Justin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family.”
