Minnesota Senate Republicans on Thursday will move to expel Sen. Justin Eichorn, charged with seeking sex from a minor
Minnesota Senate Republicans will move to fire his colleague Sen. Justin Eichorn on Thursday He solicited federal criminal charges of gender from someone he believed was 17 years oldbut it turned out to be an undercover agent.
Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, was charged with attempting to coerce or seduce minors. Prosecutors said he responded to an online ad that was part of the action by Bloomington police and other law enforcement agencies.
The consequences for the State Capitol were quick after his arrest. Senate Republicans have called for his resignation, as are other members’ partisan boundaries in both chambers. The Republican Caucus reiterated Wednesday afternoon’s call.
But on Wednesday night, Senate Republican leader Mark Johnson said they would not wait for his resignation and they would file a motion to evacuate him from the chamber during a Senate seat meeting on Thursday.
“These allegations are worth eviction, without a doubt,” Johnson said in a statement. “We should attribute it to the public to bring our members to the highest standards, and this breach of public trust is so serious that we must take action. I hope this quick resolution will give Senator Eichorn time to focus on his family.”
Republicans will need Democrats to join them to clear two-thirds of the voting barriers to expel someone. This means there are 45 members who need to vote. Republicans have 33 members and Democrats have 34 members.
Republicans have previously tried to expel Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, who was charged with felony theft in state court It is said that it broke into the stepmother’s home in April last year. She pleaded not guilty and would be tried in June, and she refused to call for resignation.
Those efforts No early vote Carry out procedural setbacks.
It is unclear how Democrats vote on the motion on Thursday. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy called the allegations against Eichorn “deeply disturbing” but she no longer called on him to resign.
He texted phone numbers posted in online advertisements placed by law enforcement and asked about sexual behavior and costs, according to court documents. Days after his first contact, police arrested Eichorn at a meeting Monday between him and an alleged teenager, during which time officers found $130 in cash and condoms in his car.
In a text exchange, Eichorn was warned that the person’s hypothetical age said: “(sic) said the age of consent is 16.”
If Eichorn resigns or is fired, the balance of power in the chamber will remain the same – Democrats will still have one seat majority.
This story will be updated.
