A Minnesota state lawmaker who is accused of trying to buy sex from an underage girl resigned from the state senate on Thursday before his colleagues were set to vote to expel him.
Justin Eichorn, a Republican, was charged with a felony in federal court on Wednesday for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor after responding to online sex ads and trying to arrange a meetup with a 17-year-old.
Eichorn, 40, was arrested on Tuesday. The charges include details about Eichorn’s alleged conduct. A similar state charge filed on Wednesday was dropped in favor of the federal charge.
Police in Bloomington, Minnesota, carried out a sex sting operation, placing ads, including photos, posing as a young woman on two websites known for human trafficking, according to an affidavit from FBI special agent Matthew Vogel. The ad claimed the girl was 18 and said: “cum $pend time with me.”
Republicans were expected to push to expel Eichorn on Thursday, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, but said after his resignation that an expulsion vote would not be necessary. Fellow Republicans, including state senate Republicans and the state Republican party, have called for him to resign, given the seriousness of the charges and the distraction it will cause him.
According to the charging documents, a phone number later identified as belonging to Eichorn texted about the ad on 11 March, asking if the girl was available that night. “What’s a guy gota do to get with the hottest girl online tonight,” he wrote, according to the affidavit. He again asked about her availability on 12 March, asking: “Awesome where ya at and what’s your rates.”
He allegedly requested a “qv”, meaning quick visit, and “hhr”, a half-hour, and asked what she charged. He also allegedly asked her how old she was. “kinda nervous 2 say,” the detective responded, then later said: “im 17 sry don’t want u 2 b mad.”
On 13 March, Eichorn allegedly again asked for the purported woman’s age and asked her to send a “naught pic of you to show me your real”. When the officer sent a photo of a clothed woman’s cleavage, he allegedly responded: “Got anything with lot less clothes?”
Eichorn allegedly contacted the number again on 17 March, asking about rates and if she could meet for an “outcall”, meaning she would travel to him. When the officer said “bare is extra”, referring to sex without a condom, Eichorn allegedly responded: “Ok how much extra?”
The undercover officer again said she was under 18. “I just wanna have fun and no drama babe,” the officer wrote. Eichorn allegedly responded: “as long as your legal age I am fine.”
“I am 17 … like I said don’t want any drama but wanna be upfront cause one guy got hella mad at me,” the officer wrote back.
“Why was he so mad? I think age of consent is 17 when do ya turn 18?” Eichborn allegedly replied. The officer responded that they were not 18 until December.
“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 allegedly said.
The officer sent an address for a meetup, and Eichorn again allegedly sought a photo of the girl, asking her to take a picture in her bra and underwear holding up two fingers. Vogel, the FBI agent, wrote that in his experience, people seeking to pay for sex often do this to verify the person matches their ad.
Eichorn arrived at the agreed-upon location, where law enforcement approached him to make an arrest.
Police found two iPhones, an unopened Trojan condom and $129 in cash in his car.
Eichorn is one of five authors of a bill introduced this week that would classify “Trump derangement syndrome” as a mental illness. The derogatory term is often used by Trump supporters to claim liberals are obsessed with Trump to the point of being mentally ill.
