Former Sen. Justin Eichorn has failed in his latest attempt to have charges alleging solicitation of a minor for sex dismissed, but scored a small victory when a judge ruled his defense can know the age of the undercover officer who posed as a 17-year-old while participating in the prostitution sting.
The rulings on Feb. 17 came on the same day a March 30 trial date was set for U.S. District Court in St. Paul for Eichorn, the 41-year-old father of four from Grand Rapids. He resigned his seat under threat of expulsion soon after he was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor following a Bloomington police sting in March 2025.
Eichorn has repeatedly challenged the federal case against him, arguing he was targeted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in order to make a public example of him because of his role as a state senator, where he represented parts of Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard and Itasca counties.
In particular, the defense took exception to a statement from then-acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick, who noted that her office “has no tolerance for public officials who violate federal law — particularly those laws meant to protect children.”
His defense also pointed out that because the case was moved to federal court, unlike the cases of most other men caught in the sting, he would be subject to a much longer sentence if convicted than if the case had remained in Hennepin County District Court as initially filed.
Ultimately, the court sided with the prosecution, which pointed out that the federal government holds wide leeway to pursue criminal charges against anyone who violates a federal crime, as Eichorn is accused of doing.
Eichorn’s defense was granted the right to know the age but not the name of the undercover detective whose texts allegedly led to his arrest.
Defense attorney Charles Hawkins contended during a hearing in August that Eichorn told the undercover agent “You look in your 20s” after seeing her photo.
