Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn Resigns Days After Arrest for Soliciting Minor, Following Controversial Bill Introduction

Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) resigned on March 20, 2025, just days after his arrest on felony charges of attempting to solicit sex from a minor. The arrest on March 17 came hours after Eichorn, a married father of four, co-sponsored a bill that sought to define "Trump Derangement Syndrome" as a mental illness. His resignation followed widespread calls from both Republican and Democratic leadership for him to step down.

The controversial bill, SF 2589, introduced on March 17, aimed to modify Minnesota's definition of mental illness to include "Trump Derangement Syndrome." According to the bill's text, this condition was described as "the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump," with symptoms including "intense hostility" and "overt acts of aggression" against Trump or his supporters. The legislation drew significant criticism, with Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) leaders dismissing it as trivializing mental health issues.

Eichorn's arrest occurred in Bloomington, Minnesota, during an undercover operation by the Bloomington Police Department. He allegedly arranged to meet someone he believed to be a 16 or 17-year-old girl for sex, but was instead met by an undercover detective. Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges stated, "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."

Following the arrest, Minnesota Senate Republican leadership issued a statement calling for Eichorn's "immediate resignation," citing the shocking nature of the reports. Senator Eichorn submitted his resignation letter on March 20, shortly before a scheduled vote on his potential expulsion from the Senate. Federal prosecutors later charged him with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution.

Eichorn, who had served in the state senate since 2017, made his first court appearance on March 20. He was released to a halfway house under strict conditions, including a prohibition on contact with unaccompanied minors and travel restrictions. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, with his next preliminary hearing scheduled for March 26.