ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Fellow Republicans called Tuesday on a Minnesota state senator to resign after police in suburban Bloomington arrested him for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution.
GOP Sen. Justin Eichorn, 40, of Grand Rapids, was arrested Monday after detectives communicated with a man who was led to believe that he was talking to a 17-year-old girl, the department said in a news release. A detective arranged to meet with him, and he was arrested outside his vehicle without incident.
He remained jailed in Bloomington on Tuesday afternoon pending his transfer to the Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis, Deputy Chief Kim Clauson said. She said she did not know if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf or if he had spoken with an investigator. Jail staff would not take a message for him.
The department said a felony charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution was pending, but the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said it had not yet received the case.
A message left at Eichorn's Senate office was not immediately returned. According to his Senate profile, he's married with four children. He lists his profession as entrepreneur and was first elected in 2016. His chair on an environment committee sat empty during a Tuesday hearing.
Senate Republicans as a group called on Eichorn to step down, as did House Republicans.
“We are shocked by these reports, and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation," his Senate GOP colleagues said in a statement. "Justin has a difficult road ahead, and he needs to focus on his family.”
Senate Democratic leaders stopped short of calling for him to quit. They have also stood up for Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell, of Woodbury, who was arrested last spring on a felony charge for allegedly burglarizing her estranged stepmother's home. Senate Democratic leaders have said she deserves to have the legal process play out first.
“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,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, said in a statement that echoed what she has said about Mitchell.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges leveled sharp criticism of Eichorn.
“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,” Hodges said in a statement. “I have always advocated stiffer penalties for these types of offenses. ... We need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”
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This story was first published on Mar. 18, 2025. It was updated on Mar. 19, 2025 to correct the age of the girl that detectives said Sen. Justin Eichorn believed he was communicating with. Police said Eichorn believed the girl was 17, not 16.
The chair for Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, sits empty in a Senate hearing room in the State Capitol complex in St. Paul on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, a day after his arrest in Bloomington for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)
CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic (AP) — The United States cruised past Germany 3-0 to reach the semifinals at the women’s ice hockey world championship on Thursday.
Kelly Pannek, Lacey Eden and Alex Carpenter each scored and captain Hilary Knight registered an assist to extend her record at the worlds to 51.
Goalie Aerin Frankel shut out the Germans with 12 saves. Germany last scored against the U.S. at the worlds in 2008.
“Today was an important game, we battled and continued to fight,” U.S. coach John Wroblewski said. “Germany is a tough, physical team and we stuck to our game and got the win.”
Pannek one-timed a shot from the left circle for her third goal at the tournament 5:36 into the quarterfinal. Eden added the second midway through the opening period from the slot.
Carpenter scored from close range with 1:07 remaining in the second period.
The U.S. has reached the final in all 23 previous worlds and won 10 titles.
Earlier, Finland beat Sweden 3-2.
Jenniina Nylund and Ronja Savolainen put Finland, last year’s bronze medalist, 2-0 ahead in the opening period of their quarterfinal.
Sweden answered through goals from Ebba Hedqvist and Josefin Bouveng in the second.
Susanna Tapani gave the Finns the lead for good with 8:14 remaining in the frame.
The Swedes have to settle for the fifth-place game on Saturday.
In the other quarterfinals later on Thursday, defending champion Canada plays Japan and the host Czech Republic faces Switzerland.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Sweden's Emma Soderberg, right, makes a save during the quarterfinal match between Finland and Sweden at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Sweden's Emma Soderberg fails to make a save during the quarterfinal match between Finland and Sweden at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Finland's Jenniina Nylund, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides first goal during the quarterfinal match between Finland and Sweden at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Finland's Susanna Tapani celebrates after scoring her sides third goal during the quarterfinal match between Finland and Sweden at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany's Sandra Abstreiter makes a save during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany's Ronja Hark, right, chatges United States' Abbey Murphy during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany's Carina Strobel, back, checks United States' Hilary Knight during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Taylor Heise, back checks Germany's Laura Kluge during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany's Laura Kluge, down, collides with United States' Britta Curl during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany's Sandra Abstreiter, right, makes a save against United States' Lacey Eden during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Aerin Frankel makes a save during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Lacey Eden, right, celebrates after scoring her sides first goal during the quarterfinal match between United States and Germany at the Women's Ice Hockey Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
