ST. PAUL — Former state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded not guilty in the case against him alleging he solicited a minor for prostitution.
Eichorn entered the plea in a Monday, April 21, hearing in a federal courtroom in St. Paul.
He’s been living in a halfway house in Duluth since his arrest last month, as ordered by the court.
In a motion last week, Eichorn’s defense attorneys asked for his conditions of release to be modified. His conditions barred him from contact with anyone under the age of 18 without the supervision of another adult aware of his offense.
He asked for an exception to be included in his conditions to allow him contact with his four minor children. According to the motion, Eichorn has not been in touch with his children since his March 17 arrest. However, that motion was withdrawn on Monday.
The next court hearing in the case is set for June 18.
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Contributed/Minnesota SenateIn seeking to move the date, Eichorn waived his rights to a speedy trial, but said he does intend to proceed to a jury trial. -
Contributed/Minnesota SenateThe former lawmaker's trial is slated to begin March 30, 2026. Eichorn was charged with soliciting a minor in 2025 after a prostitution sting operation in Bloomington, where an undercover officer posed as a 17-year-old online.
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KAXE covered natural disasters, federal funding chaos, Eichorn's arrest and resignation, mining permits and wild rice, library budget cuts, sheriffs teaming with ICE and more. -
Ekaterina Bolovtsova via PexelsA federal judge rejected most of Justin Eichorn's defense motions to dismiss the case or suppress evidence in a Nov. 26, 2025, order and recommendation. -
Contributed/Hennepin CountyThe former Minnesota state senator is one of two people being charged at the federal level, which carries a tougher maximum sentence compared to the state level. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe Republican won all but 11 of 80 precincts in Senate District 6 in her April 29, 2025, special election victory. Seven precincts that voted red in 2022 flipped. -
Contributed/Minnesota SenateJustin Eichorn was arrested on March 17, 2025, at a parking lot in Bloomington, where he allegedly expected to meet the underage girl to pay for sex.
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Plus: the winter sports season has come to an end, with Northland boys basketball teams having a strong finish at the weekend's state tournament. -
Contributed/Hennepin CountyIn a new motion, the federal government is asking for the former state senator to remain jailed, calling him a flight risk and a danger to the community.
