Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn is facing federal charges after he allegedly attempted to solicit a minor for prostitution.
According to the charges:
Bloomington police conducted an undercover prostitution operation starting March 11 and targeting solicitation of minors for sexual conduct.
As part of the operation, they placed ads on various websites offering prostitution, and one of the individuals who responded was Eichorn. Eichorn then began a text conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl.
Eichorn first contacted the undercover officer on March 11 asking if she was available “tonight.” Once he received a response, he asked the officer for her rates and location.
When asked what he was looking for, Eichorn replied “Qv or hhr,” which the complaint says stands for a “quick visit” and a half hour of time.
During the text conversation, the officer provided her rates. Eichorn asked how old the officer was and she stated that she was younger than her ad and was 17 years old.
On March 13, Eichorn again contacted the officer asking if she was available. He again asked for her rates and if she was available for a “half hour.” The conversation continued until the officer did not reply.
Eichorn then reached out again on March 17 asking the officer if she was available and for her rates. Her age was again discussed and she advised him again that she was 17 years old. Eichorn asked for pictures of what he thought was a 17-year-old girl to make him feel more comfortable.
He also asked how much more it would cost for “bare,” which refers to sexual conduct without use of a condom.
The federal complaint provides details of the text conversations, including one in which Eichorn asked the officer: “When do ya turn 18?”
The officer said: “I am 17…like I said don’t want any drama but wanna be upfront cause one guy got hella mad at me.”
Eichorn replied: “Why was he so mad? I think age of consent is 17 when do ya turn 18?”
The officer said: “Idk lol he was a creep anyway. I don’t turn 18 till December.”
Eichorn replied: “It’s says age of consent is 16 …… over 18 is in a position of authority over you like a teacher or friends parent.”
At one point, Eichorn asked the officer—who he thought was a minor female—to send him a “naught[y] pick” including one “with lot less clothes.”
Eichorn was arrested by law enforcement officers when he arrived at a Bloomington location to meet with the minor he thought he was texting earlier this week. In his car, among other things, law enforcement found cash and a condom.
Eichorn is facing a federal charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and a state charge of agreeing to hire a person under 18 for prostitution.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for public officials who violate federal law—particularly those laws meant to protect children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick. “I am grateful to the Bloomington Police Department, to the FBI, and to all law enforcement officers who use undercover operations to identify and arrest child sex predators to prevent them from abusing real children.”
Republican leaders in the Minnesota House and Senate have called for Eichorn’s resignation. He is currently being held at the Hennepin County Jail.
Update: The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is dropping the state charges against Eichorn, saying it is common practice for state charges to be dropped when federal charges are filed based on the same allegations.
Additionally, the office said six other individuals have been charged with similar crimes in connection to the undercover operation.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
