A Minnesota State Senator who made headlines for introducing a bill to label “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental illness, has resigned after he allegedly tried to meet up with a police officer who posed as a minor.
Senator Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday night around 6 p.m. for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to a statement from the Bloomington Police Department.
Detectives were previously in contact with Eichorn, who believed “he was talking to a 17-year-old female.” Eichorn responded to an online advertisement for prostitution by contacting the number provided, asking for rates, availability and location, according to the criminal complaint reviewed by CBS News. The detective, while posing as the girl, told Eichorn she was 17 multiple times, prosecutors say.
They then arranged a meetup for Monday evening, during which he was arrested “without incident.” Police say they found two cellphones, a condom and cash after searching Eichorn and his vehicle.
He is now in custody at the Bloomington Police Department jail.
“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 in a statement. "I have always advocated stiffer penalties for these types of offenses…We need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”
Eichorn has now been charged with prostitution and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, according to court records filed Wednesday in Hennepin County, CBS News reports. Prosecutors allege the lawmaker "intentionally hired or offered or agreed to hire an individual who [he] believes to be under the age of 18 years, but at least 16 years of age, to engage in sexual penetration or sexual contact."
The latter is a federal charge.
Eichorn submitted his letter of resignation, effective Thursday, less than an hour before the Minnesota Senate was set to take an unprecedented vote to expel him from the chamber.
“This is the right thing to do for his family and the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, a Republican, said. “We are ready to move on and do the important work that needs to be done at the Capitol.”
With the resignation, Democrats will now hold a two seat edge in the Senate until a special election is held to fill his seat, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was one of several voices from across the political aisle to call for Eichorn’s resignation following his arrest.
“You cannot prey on children and expect to get away with it,” Walz said.
The Independent has contacted Eichorn’s office for comment.
On the day he was arrested, Eichorn and four other Minnesota Republican senators proposed legislation to the Health and Human Services committee that would label “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental illness.
Their bill describes the faux “syndrome” as the “acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump.”
They claim symptoms include “Trump-induced general hysteria,” where a person struggles to distinguish between “legitimate policy” and “psychic pathology,” which is expressed with verbal hostility or acts of aggression against Trump and his MAGA supporters.
The bill is unlikely to be approved with Democrat-aligned parties having a one-seat advantage in the state senate.
Eichorn, 40, is married and a father to four children. Police found two iPhone, an unopened Trojan condom and $129 in cash upon his arrest, according to the Guardian.
With reporting from James Liddell.
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