UPDATE: State Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, resigned his seat Thursday amid allegations that he solicited sex from a minor.

Eichorn submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Tim Walz just before the Senate was set to take up a motion to expel him. His Republican colleagues stated on Wednesday that they would introduce the motion, and the DFL Seante caucus voiced its support for the measure Thursday morning.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said he spoke with the governor and confirmed the letter had been received and accepted.

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(KSTP) — Federal charges were filed Wednesday against Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who was arrested in Bloomington earlier this week on suspicion of soliciting an underage girl for sex.

Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) was arrested Monday evening after he allegedly arranged to meet with an undercover Bloomington Police Department officer who was posing as a 17-year-old girl.

Hennepin County prosecutors charged Eichorn, 40, with one count of soliciting prostitution from a minor over the age of 16. In federal court, he is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said that they will dismiss the state charges because federal charges were filed.

Eichorn also faces expulsion from the Senate. On Wednesday night, Senate Republicans announced they would make a motion to expel Eichorn on Thursday morning.

“There is no question that these charges merit expulsion,” Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said. “We owe it to the public to hold our members to the highest standards, and this violation of the public trust is so severe we must act. It is my hope that this quick resolution gives Senator Eichorn time to focus on his family.”

Charging documents allege Eichorn first texted an undercover Bloomington police officer while responding to an online ad for sex work.

He asked around 9 p.m. on March 11 if she was available “tonight,” and when he didn’t get an answer, he texted again that night asking, “What’s a guy gota do to get with the hottest girl online tonight.” He followed up the next morning to ask if she was available and received an affirmative reply.

Eichorn allegedly went on to ask about the undercover officer’s rates and said he was looking for “Qv or hhr,” shorthand for “quick visit” or “half hour.” When he asked the officer’s age, she disclosed she was 17.

Eichorn again texted the officer on March 13 and asked if she was available for a “half hour.” The conversation came to an end when the undercover officer stopped responding, the complaint states.

On Monday, Eichorn reached out a third time asking if the officer was available that night. They discussed rates, and when she again said she was 17, he asserted that she was above the age of consent in Minnesota.

“It’s says age of consent is 16 …… over 18 is in a position of authority over you like a teacher or friends parent,” Eichorn texted.

Hiring someone for sex is illegal regardless of age in Minnesota, and soliciting a minor is a felony offense.

Charging documents state Eichorn asked for “naughty” pictures, including one “with a lot less clothes.” He also asked about how much more it would cost to have sex without a condom.

When Eichorn met at the location given by the undercover officer, police placed him under arrest.

A search of Eichorn and his vehicle turned up two cell phones, a condom and $129 in cash. Authorities say they will conduct a search warrant to look at the contents of the phones.

Eichorn’s Republican colleagues in the Legislature on Tuesday said his “alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation.”

Legislative records reveal that in 2021, Eichorn co-sponsored a bill that would increase the criminal penalties for creating, distributing, and possessing sexually explicit materials involving children.

(ABC 6 News) – Republican Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn has been officially charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to a criminal complaint, the undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl began receiving messages from Eichorn on March 11th. Eichorn asked to meet up, later saying “what’s a guy gota do to get with the hottest girl online tonight.”

The officer repeatedly told Eichorn that she was 17, not 18, but Eichorn allegedly kept asking the undercover officer about pricing for sex acts she might perform.

In a statement, acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for public officials who violate federal law—particularly those laws meant to protect children,” adding “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.”

Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) released the following the statement:

“I am shocked and horrified by the allegations against Senator Eichorn and the information in the charging documents. His alleged conduct and communication demand his immediate resignation. My heart goes out to his wife and children during what must be an incredibly painful time for their family.”

Senator Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) releases the following statement:

“I am horrified and disgusted by the allegations that Justin Eichorn arranged to pay for sex with a child. I thank God there was no child involved in this arrest, but that does not mean there are no victims. If there are any other children he may have abused — in his community and in his time at the Capitol — I pray they are safe and receive justice for the abuse they endured.

Republican lawmakers in Minnesota and across the U.S. have tried to call themselves defenders of women, girls and children. They have slandered the LGBTQ community, falsely accusing us of being ‘groomers’ and ‘pedophiles.’ These accusations are baseless and dangerous. The party spreading these lies should take a hard look at the individuals they associate with — and confront the real predators in their own rank.

I have never called for a member’s resignation before. Not when I was sexually harassed by my colleagues; not when members pleaded guilty to driving under the influence; not when they stole money from their donors for personal gain; and not when they were charged with property crimes. I am appalled by the attempts to conflate Eichorn’s alleged crimes with anything else a member has done. Every reasonable person knows the difference between those acts and the solicitation of a minor. Justin Eichorn should resign from the jail cell where he thankfully resides as soon as humanly possible.”

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(KSTP-TV) – Republican state lawmakers are calling on one of their own to resign after Sen. Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday in Bloomington on suspicion of soliciting an underage girl for sex.

The Bloomington Police Department said Eichorn, 40, of Grand Rapids, solicited sex from a detective posing as a 17-year-old girl online. Eichorn and the detective arranged to meet near the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard.

Eichorn was seen arriving in his pickup truck at the rendezvous point and was taken into custody just after 5:45 p.m., police said.

As of this publishing, Eichorn remained in the Bloomington Police Department’s custody awaiting transfer to the Hennepin County Jail. Formal charges have yet to be filed.

“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,” Bloomington Police Chief
Booker Hodges said.

Hodges added that he wants the Minnesota Legislature “to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”

Republicans in the House and Senate released statements Tuesday afternoon urging Eichorn to step down.

“We are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation,” the Senate Republican caucus said. “Justin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family.”

In a joint statement, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and House Republican Leader Harry Niska said “the seriousness of the charges” warrants Eichorn’s resignation: “While he is entitled to due process, we must hold legislators to a higher standard.”

Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said in a statement that “Senator Eichorn is an immediate danger to the public and must resign immediately.”

Notably, the leader of the Senate DFL caucus did not immediately call for Eichorn to step down.

“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,” Senate Minority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement. 

Eichorn’s arrest comes as another state senator — Democrat Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury — has a pending felony case after she allegedly broke into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home with a crowbar.

Senate Republicans have pushed to have Mitchell removed from the chamber, and shortly after Mitchell’s arrest, Eichorn joined his caucus’ calls for her to resign.

“Sen. Mitchell’s premeditated actions are disturbing. They do not align with the values Minnesotans expect of their elected leaders, and she needs to resign from the Senate,” Eichorn said in a social media post last year.

Eichorn was first elected to the Senate in 2016 and is in his third term.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.