"I don't know how this guy gets out of jail, as much as he has." - Bloomington Police Chief Hodges
"I started to engage with our federal partners, because quite frankly, locally here, we just... we just... we got somethings we have to work out here locally."
In mid-March 2025, Bloomington Police executed a high-stakes undercover operation targeting men attempting to solicit sex with minors. Over the course of the multi-day sting, law enforcement arrested 14 individuals, including former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn (R–Grand Rapids). The operation, known internally as “Operation: I Can’t Help Myself,” revealed a disturbing pattern of demand-driven sex solicitation across the metro area.
How the Sting Unfolded
Bloomington police—working alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and airport police—posted fake advertisements on prostitution websites, purporting to be underage teens offering sexual services. According to court documents, suspects engaged in explicit text conversations and arranged in-person meetings, believing they were communicating with a 17-year-old girl (KSTP, 2025).
Chief Booker Hodges emphasized Bloomington’s unique vulnerability to these crimes due to its over 10,000 hotel rooms, concentrated around the airport and interstate corridor—making it fertile ground for trafficking and solicitation (KSTP, 2025).
Eichorn’s Arrest & Legal Fallout
Justin Eichorn was arrested without incident after arriving at a pre-arranged meeting location in a pickup truck. Investigators found two cell phones, $129 in cash, and an unopened condom in his vehicle (Reformer, 2025; Fox 9, 2025). Text message logs indicated Eichorn used shorthand jargon—“Qv” (“quick visit”) and “hhr” (“half-hour rate”) to negotiate sex, even after learning the person was underage. For example, he allegedly asked, “When do ya turn 18?” after being told the decoy was 17 (Star Tribune, 2025; Reformer, 2025).
Federal prosecutors charged him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence. Eichorn was released to a GPS-monitored halfway house after Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins determined he was not a danger to the community (AP News, 2025).
Political Response & Resignation
In a swift show of accountability, Senate Republican leadership, joined by Democrats, demanded Eichorn’s resignation. The call for expulsion was halted after Eichorn voluntarily resigned on March 20, 2025, making the expulsion vote unnecessary. Senate leaders cited the seriousness of the charges and the critical need to maintain public trust (Star Tribune, 2025; AP News, 2025).
Following his resignation, Governor Tim Walz ordered a special election for April 29, 2025, to fill the vacant District 6 seat.
What It Reveals
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Public trust violated: A serving legislator was found attempting to solicit sex from what he believed was a minor—shattering the expectation of ethical leadership.
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Interagency enforcement: This case exemplifies how coordinated sting operations, including data-driven undercover "chatters," can disrupt solicitation networks.
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Demand matters: The operation targeted buyers—“Johns”—not victims, highlighting a shift toward prosecuting demand and protecting vulnerable individuals.
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Transportation corridors as risk zones: Bloomington's hotel-heavy geography made it a hotspot for solicitation activity, demonstrating the regional need for vigilance and prevention.
This arrest and resignation underscore a broader message: no one—not even a senator—is exempt from prosecution when trust is grossly violated. Coordinated law enforcement efforts can, and do, hold powerful individuals accountable. But deep reform is needed to prevent predatory access to minors—especially near transit and tourist hubs.
APA-Style References
Associated Press. (2025, March 26). Minnesota judge says ex-senator arrested in prostitution sting can be released to halfway house. AP News.
Bloomington Police Department. (2025, March 24). Bloomington police release more info on underage sex‑trafficking sting that led to 14 arrests. Northern News Now.
Griffith, M. (2025, March 19). Sex sting charges: MN senator texted ‘when do ya turn 18?’ to undercover cop. Minnesota Reformer.
KSTP. (2025, March). Bloomington Police: Eichorn among 14 men arrested as part of sex solicitation sting.
Star Tribune. (2025, March 27). How does law enforcement carry out sting operations like the one that led to Justin Eichorn’s arrest? Star Tribune.
Fox 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul. (2025, March). Senator Justin Eichorn arrested in minor prostitution sting: What we know.
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