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By Peter Cox and Clay Masters, Minnesota Public Radio News

Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn was arrested Monday in Bloomington for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution.

According to Bloomington police records, Eichorn was arrested near the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue at around 6 p.m. Police say Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, was booked into the Bloomington city jail and remains in custody.

In a statement, the Bloomington Police Department said detectives communicated with Eichorn “who thought he was talking to a 16-year-old female” and then arranged a meetup on Monday. He was arrested without incident outside of his vehicle by uniformed officers, Bloomington police said.

Hours after news of the arrest became public, Senate Republicans, along with Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, called for Eichorn to resign his seat.
Eichorn, 40, is listed in his Senate biography as an entrepreneur who is married with four children. He was first elected to the Senate in 2016.

MPR News generally does not name suspects until they are charged with a crime. Editors chose to name Eichorn following his arrest given his prominence as an elected senator. He has not been charged with a crime.

MPR News has sought comment from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and from a spokesperson for Eichorn.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement, “The felony allegation against Senator Eichorn is deeply disturbing, and raises serious questions that will need to be answered by the court, as well as his caucus and constituents.”

On social media, Minnesota House Rep. Elliott Engen, R-White Bear Township, called for Eichorn to “resign in disgrace” and be prosecuted.

Eichorn’s arrest on Monday came hours after he and four other Republican senators introduced legislation to designate “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental illness.