MN Senator Arrested in Undercover Sex Crime 'Sting' Investigation

Bloomington, MN (KROC-AM News) - A state lawmaker was arrested on Monday as the result of an undercover "sting" investigation conducted by the Bloomington Police Department.

A news release says 40-year-old Justin David Eichorn of Grand Rapids was taken into custody on suspicion of soliciting a minor for prostitution. According to the Minnesota Senate website, Eichorn is a Republican and is serving his third term in the State Senate representing the Grand Rapids area. The website also states that he is married and has four children.

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Bloomington Police say detectives communicated with a man who thought he was speaking with a 17-year-old girl. The news release says the detective arranged to meet the man on Monday and Eichorn was taken into custody when he arrived at the arranged meeting place.

Bloomington Police Dept. photo

“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. “I have always advocated stiffer penalties for these types of offenses. The recent case involving Michael Gillis who was arrested in Bloomington is a prime example of why we need stronger penalties. We need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”

Minnesota Senate Republicans responded to Eichorn's arrest with a statement calls for his immediate resignation.

The Republican Caucus in the Minnesota House also called for Eichorn to step down.

More Minnesota News:

These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew