The Minnesota Senate GOP is set to make a motion to expel one of their colleagues, Sen. Justin Eichorn, following a federal criminal charge that he attempted to solicit sex from what he thought was a 17-year-old, who in reality, was an undercover police officer. The action comes in the wake of swift fallout from his arrest at the state Capitol, with Senate Republicans and lawmakers from both parties calling for his resignation.
Eichorn, a Republican representing Grand Rapids, faces a charge of attempted coercion or enticement of a minor. According to prosecutors, he responded to an online advertisement, which was part of an operation by Bloomington police and other law enforcement agencies aimed at combatting sex trafficking.
In the aftermath of his arrest, Senate Republicans and other lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, urged Eichorn to step down. The GOP caucus echoed this sentiment on Wednesday afternoon. However, by Wednesday evening, Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson announced that they would not wait for Eichorn’s resignation and would instead put forth a motion to remove him from the chamber during Thursday’s Senate floor session.
In a statement, Johnson declared, “There is no question that these charges merit expulsion. 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.”
However, the GOP will require the support of Democrats in order to successfully expel Eichorn, as a two-thirds vote is needed for such action. Currently, the Senate comprises 33 Republicans and 34 Democrats, meaning a minimum of 45 members must vote in favor of expulsion.
The GOP had previously attempted to expel Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a Democrat from Woodbury, who stands accused of felony burglary in state court for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home last April. Mitchell has pleaded not guilty and is set to stand trial in June, and she has resisted calls to resign. However, these efforts did not advance to a final vote due to procedural setbacks.
As of now, it remains uncertain how Democrats will vote on the motion to expel Eichorn on Thursday. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy has described the allegations against Eichorn as “deeply disturbing,” but she has not called for his resignation.
Court documents reveal that Eichorn had texted the number listed in the online ad posted by law enforcement, inquiring about sexual services and their cost. Days following the initial contact, police arrested him during a scheduled meeting between Eichorn and the supposed teenager. During the arrest, officers found $130 in cash and a condom in his car. The criminal complaint states that in one text exchange, Eichorn was informed of the individual’s alleged age, to which he replied, “It’s [sic] says age of consent is 16.”
Should Eichorn either resign or be expelled, the balance of power in the chamber would remain unchanged, with Democrats maintaining their one-seat majority.
As events unfold, this story will continue to be updated.
