Justin Eichorn, who was a Republican state senator in Minnesota for over eight years, resigned from office on Thursday after being charged with allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Minutes before the state senate was set to vote on whether or not to expel Eichorn, a brief resignation letter from the embattled lawmaker was delivered to the chamber and read aloud by Minnesota Senate Secretary Tom Bottern.
“Governor Walz I am resigning my seat in the Minnesota Senate for District Six, effective immediately. I must focus on personal matters at this time. It has been an honor to serve in the Minnesota Senate,” the letter read.
The resignation comes after Minnesota police began an undercover operation where detectives posed as underage girls and “placed advertisements for commercial sex” on public websites. Eichorn began communicating with someone he believed to be a 17-year-old girl who was an undercover detective earlier this month. When he went to meet the girl for sex on Monday, Eichorn was arrested by police.
Eichorn was swiftly condemned by his colleagues, with members of the state GOP calling en masse for him to step down from office.
“We are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation,” Minnesota Senate Republicans wrote in a statement on Tuesday. “Justin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family.”
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) also called for Eichorn’s resignation during a press conference Wednesday.
“You cannot prey on children and expect to get away with it,” the Minnesota governor said.
Investigators allege Eichorn was fully aware the girl he believed he was communicating with was a minor, according to USA Today.
“I am 17 … like I said don’t want any drama but wanna be upfront cause one guy got hella mad at me,” the undercover agent said in one text.
MINNESOTA GOP CALLS FOR STATE SENATOR’S RESIGNATION AFTER ARREST FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
“Why was he so mad? I think age of consent is 17 when do ya turn 18?” Eichorn replied, according to court documents.
Conversations between the two included “the undercover’s ‘rates,’ her supposed age, and sex acts,” police said.