Latest news with #Eichorn
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP's Heintzeman wins Senate District 6 special election to replace Justin Eichorn
The Brief Republican Keri Heintzeman has defeated Democrat Denise Slipy in a special election for Senate District 6 in Minnesota, representing areas such as Brainerd and Grand Rapids. The special election was held to fill a seat left vacant by Sen. Justin Eichorn after his prostitution arrest. BRAINERD, Minn. (FOX 9) - Republican Keri Heintzeman will represent Minnesota's Senate District 6 after a special election was held to replace the spot resigned by Justin Eichorn. According to Minnesota's Office of the Secretary of State's results, Heintzeman has edged challenger Denise Slipy (the DFL's candidate) by a 60.27% to 39.59% margin - or 12,751 to 8,376 votes. Dig deeper Heintzeman is the wife of Rep. Josh Heintzeman, the Minnesota House rep for the Brainerd area. She previously worked as a district director for the Trump 2024 campaign and owns a recreational rental business in Nisswa. The backstory The two candidates faced off for the seat left vacant by Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned after being charged as part of a prostitution say Eichorn attempted to solicit a teen girl for sex but was really texting with an undercover police officer in Bloomington. He was arrested when he allegedly showed up to meet with the girl and is now facing federal charges in the case. He resigned days after his arrest. By the numbers Before Eichorn, the Senate District 6 seat was held by DFLer David Tomassoni for more than two decades until his death in 2022 after being diagnosed with ALS. Senate District 5, which previously covered much of the new District 6, was last won by a Democrat in 2012. Eichorn won the seat in 2016 by a narrow margin and easily earned re-election in 2020.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minnesota Senate seat vacated by Justin Eichorn will be filled in Tuesday's special election
Voters in northern Minnesota are heading to the polls on Tuesday to determine who will fill the state Senate seat vacated by Justin Eichorn, who resigned following allegations he tried to pay a teenager for sex. Republican Keri Heintzeman and Democrat Denise Slipy are on the ballot to replace Eichorn in Senate District 6, which leans GOP and includes the Brainerd Lakes area. Eichorn pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of attempted coercion or enticement of a minor earlier this month. He was arrested as part of an online prostitution sting in Bloomington in March, authorities said. He is currently at a halfway house in Duluth. Keri Heintzeman, a former Trump campaign worker and wife of GOP state Rep. Josh Heintzeman, won the Republican primary in the race earlier this month. Slipy, a first responder and environmental health and safety professional, ran unopposed on the DFL side. Last week, the Minnesota DFL filed a complaint against Keri Heintzeman, alleging she ignored campaign contribution limits by accepting more than the maximum allowed from nine different donors. In response, she called the complaint "a baseless effort to smear my reputation just before the election." Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Your polling place can be found on the secretary of state's website. Democrats hold a two-vote majority in the Senate, so Tuesday's special election will not change the balance of power, no matter the result. Whoever wins will take the oath of office in early May ahead of the crucial final weeks before the legislative session must end on May 19. WCCO will have the results of Tuesday's special election once ballots are counted.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former MN Senator Justin Eichorn pleads not guilty in federal court
The Brief Former Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon in St. Paul federal court to charges that he attempted to solicit an underage sex worker last month. Eichorn was arrested last month in Bloomington as part of a prostitution sting. Eichorn resigned from the Minnesota Senate hours before lawmakers were going to have him expelled. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Former Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn appeared in St. Paul federal court Monday afternoon, during which he entered a not guilty plea as he's accused of trying to solicit an underage sex worker last month. Before the court hearing, Eichorn had filed a request to have the conditions of his release from a Duluth halfway house eased to have contact with his four children. His legal team withdrew that motion on Monday. His current conditions don't allow him to have contact with children under 18 years old. Timeline Eichorn will have a motions hearing at 2 p.m. on June 18. The backstory Bloomington police announced last month Eichorn had been arrested as part of a prostitution sting. According to the charges, Eichorn is accused of texting an undercover officer he believed was a 17-year-old girl. Police say Eichorn tried to negotiate rates, asked how much not to use a condom, and arranged a meet-up time. However, when Eichorn allegedly showed up to meet with the teen, police say he was arrested. What we know Eichorn, a Republican, faced calls from both sides of the aisle to resign after his arrest in March. The Senate GOP brought forth a motion to expel him from the chamber, but Eichorn ultimately resigned hours before the motion could be heard. After initially being charged in Hennepin County Court, the case was moved to federal court where Eichorn faces charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. In the days following the arrest, Eichorn's wife also filed for divorce. Why you should care Eichorn resigned from his Minnesota Senate seat on March 20, just hours before state lawmakers were going to make a motion to expel him. A special election to fill Eichorn's seat is set for April 29. Republican Keri Heintzeman and Democrat Denise Slipy are set to face off in the race for Senate District 6.
Associated Press
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ex-Minnesota state senator pleads not guilty to attempted enticement of a minor
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A former Minnesota state senator who was caught in a police sting operation pleaded not guilty Monday to a federal charge of attempted enticement of a minor for prostitution. Justin Eichorn entered his plea in a brief appearance before Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins. The judge granted his request for more time for his attorneys to review the evidence, so a trial that had been scheduled for June 9 will be rescheduled. The 40-year-old Republican from Grand Rapids was arrested in Bloomington on March 17 after exchanging text messages with an undercover officer who posed as a 17-year-old girl and arranging a meetup for sex for money, according to court documents. Federal prosecutors then took over the case. Eichorn was released to a halfway house in Duluth on March 26. A grand jury returned a felony indictment April 1. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. Eichorn resigned from the Senate March 20. A special election to fill his seat is set for next Tuesday, April 29, between Republican Keri Heintzeman and Democrat Denise Slipy.
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Justin Eichorn, charged in prostitution sting, asks judge for access to his children
A former Minnesota state senator accused of attempting to pay a teenager for sex has asked a judge to modify restrictions on his contact with minors so that he may see his own children. Justin Eichorn, a Republican who represented District 6 before resigning in March , is due in federal court in St. Paul Monday. Ahead of that hearing, his attorneys filed a motion asking a judge to change his release conditions , which bar him from associating with anyone under 18 "except in the presence of a responsible adult who is aware of the nature of the background" of the allegations against Eichorn. Eichorn faces a federal charge of attempted coercion or enticement of a minor. Prosecutors allege he responded to an online prostitution ad that was part of a sex trafficking sting by Bloomington police and other law enforcement. In a motion filed Friday, Eichorn's attorneys said he "wishes to continue his relationship with his children," and without a modification to his release conditions, he will be "cut off" from them. "Mr. Eichorn has been served a petition for divorce which will involve custody questions regarding the couple's four minor children," the attorneys wrote. "Mr. Eichorn respectfully requests he have contact with his children both by telephone and in person so he may legitimately maintain his relationship with his children during this difficult time. This will allow the state court to address visitation of the children during any dissolution proceedings." Eichorn is currently at a halfway house in Duluth . A special election to fill Eichorn's vacated seat will take place April 29. Republican Keri Heintzeman and Democrat Denise Slipy are running in the GOP-leaning district. Note: The video above originally aired March 27, 2025.
