Update (8 a.m. March 25): The Associated Press reported late Monday that U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ruled that Eichorn should remain jailed instead of being released to a halfway house on Tuesday as previously scheduled.
Federal prosecutors have asked a court to review its pending decision to allow former Iron Range State Sen. Justin Eichorn to be released into a halfway house after he allegedly tried to prevent authorities from accessing a laptop and lied about having firearm access if released.
The Grand Rapids Republican’s release was scheduled for Tuesday. A filing Sunday in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota further accused him of being familiar with soliciting minors for sex, citing that he allegedly acknowledged the ad was for an underage girl and used lingo familiar with the prostitution trade.
Eichorn, 40, was arrested last week by Bloomington police and charged with attempting to solicit sex from a minor. Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Bobier said he was a flight risk and his release would bring danger to the public.
“Eichorn’s messages and conduct reveal an experienced operator,” the prosecutors wrote. “His pretrial release brings with it a real risk that he would attempt to victimize other minors in the community.”
He was one of 14 men snared in the sex sting, said Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges. He allegedly responded to an online ad on March 11 and conversation with an undercover cop, posing as a 17-year-old girl, continued for days. They agreed to meet on March 17 at a designated spot, where they seized two Apple iPhones, an unopened condom and $129 in cash. Police would also seize Eichorn’s Toyota Tundra pickup truck.
After his March 20 arrest, Eichorn told the court he didn’t have access to firearms in his St. Paul apartment, where he lived alone during the legislative sessions. Prosecutors said in the Sunday filing that investigators found a handgun and ammunition located in the apartment while executing a search warrant.
They also alleged Eichorn, through calls from jail, contacted an unnamed individual with a Grand Rapids address to retrieve a computer from his apartment. The individual, according to the filing, arrived at the St. Paul apartment around 10 a.m. March 21. FBI agents secured the apartment and denied the person access.
Prosecutors said they believe the unnamed woman traveled from Grand Rapids to clear out the residence before investigators could get there.
In addition to the gun, authorities located a computer, a memory card, $1,000 in cash and an additional Apple iPhone that appeared to have been reset to factory settings, which can cause content on the phone to be erased. Several Senate business cards of Eichorn’s were also found.
Prosecutors argued Eichorn may have attempted to obstruct their investigation and maintain firearm access. Again citing his alleged knowledge of sex trafficking terminology, they also argued he may attempt to victimize other minors.
“Eichorn’s post-arrest conduct, including his lie to pretrial services concerning his possession of a gun, make clear that he does not intend to be truthful or to respect legal process,” they wrote. “Instead, his conduct strongly suggests a willingness—and actual steps taken—to frustrate the ongoing child-sex investigation into his conduct.”
Eichorn is due back in court Wednesday.
The former senator has since resigned his seat, which removed him as chair of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) Advisory Board. A special reorganization meeting of the IRRR will take place Wednesday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected on Tuesday to announce a special election to fill the seat.
Several candidates have expressed interest in running, including former Minnesota GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan, who resigned from her post in 2021 amid claims that she maintained a toxic workplace environment. She also faced security for her ties to GOP donor Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, who was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being convicted in federal court of sex trafficking minors.
Eichorn has held the Senate District 6 seat since 2017 and easily won re-election in 2022. Republicans are favored to win the special election, which would give Democrats a 34-33 edge in the chamber. The seat would be open for a full-term election in 2026.
