Minnesota Republican accused of soliciting sex with 16-year-old girl

Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn, a Republican, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of trying to solicit a minor.

Minnesota Public Radio reported Tuesday that the Bloomington Police Department claimed Eichorn, “who thought he was talking to a 16-year-old female," was actually in touch with detectives. He then scheduled a meetup on Monday, where police arrested him, officials said.

MPR cited Eichorn's biography, which states he is "an entrepreneur and married with four children."

ALSO READ: ‘Hypocrite!’ Dems cry foul as Republican who yelled 'You lie!' votes for censure

Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said he wouldn't comment to MPR before he was able to review the information.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, a Democrat, released a statement saying, “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.”

Local police had a different take.

“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,” Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges told KSTP News.

The report also said that formal charges had not yet been filed.

Hodges added he wants to see officials “take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”

Read the full report here.