Federal authorities want former state Sen. Justin Eichorn to remain in custody ahead of his trial for allegedly seeking sex with a 17-year-old girl, claiming the ex-Minnesota lawmaker lied about having access to a gun and arranged to cover up evidence that could be used against him in court.

Prosecutors on Sunday filed a motion in court seeking to bring Eichorn back to custody, alleging he asked someone to pick up a laptop, phone, and handgun from his St. Paul apartment before FBI agents could find them.

The Republican senator from northern Minnesota was arrested last week in a Bloomington prostitution sting and resigned last Thursday as his colleagues were prepared to vote to expel him from office. At his initial appearance last week, a federal judge allowed him to be released from detention ahead of trial on the condition he was subject to monitoring and stayed in a halfway house.

Justin David Eichorn (Courtesy of the Bloomington Police Department)

Eichorn, 40, a Republican from Grand Rapids, had previously told the court that he did not have access to any firearms in his St. Paul apartment, the U.S. Attorney’s office wrote. But FBI agents found a pistol and ammunition in a red bag on the kitchen counter when they searched his apartment on Friday.

In an earlier jail phone call Eichorn asked a person prosecutors identified as “Individual A,” to pick up a red bag containing a laptop — the same one agents later found in a search of the apartment, prosecutors said.

The person Eichorn allegedly contacted to retrieve the bag had driven about three hours from Grand Rapids and ran into FBI agents outside the apartment around 9:50 a.m. Friday.

She asked to enter the building, and when FBI agents said no, she said she needed to go into the apartment to retrieve a laptop she used for business.

Later during their search, agents found the red bag, which contained the laptop, a handgun and ammunition, $1,000 in cash, an SD memory card, Senate business cards, and an iPhone which appeared to have been reset to factory settings — meaning all the content on the phone had been erased.

Prosecutors noted that some iPhones can be erased remotely if a person has the proper login information, and that investigation into the devices is ongoing.

“These facts give the government, and should give the Court, serious concern that Eichorn may be attempting to obstruct the ongoing investigation into his conduct,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in its motion urging a new detention hearing for Eichorn.

The arrest

Eichorn was arrested in Bloomington on Monday, March 17, after attempting to pay for sex with a person he believed to be a 17-year-old girl he had met online, according to charges. The girl turned out to be an officer with the Bloomington Police Department, which was conducting a sting operation for underage prostitution.

Related Articles

What to know about Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race

The year’s first major political test in Wisconsin becomes a referendum on Elon Musk

Trump demands his ‘distorted’ portrait in Colorado’s Capitol be taken down

Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House, has died

12 dozen lawmakers accused in 8 years. Women in the statehouse weigh #MeToo’s impact

He was initially arrested on a state charge, but the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office has taken up the case. Eichorn appeared in federal court in St. Paul Thursday afternoon on a federal charge of coercion and enticement of a minor. He could face up to 10 years in prison.

The senator was just one of 14 people arrested in the multi-agency effort, according to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges. Initially, the department didn’t know Eichorn was an elected official, Hodges said.

“We had no idea who he was,” the police chief said at a Monday news conference, telling reporters he learned from another law enforcement official while on a trip to San Diego.

Hodges added it didn’t matter to him who someone was if they wanted to seek sex with minors, but said it was “unfortunate” a state senator faces a charge.

“I do believe most members of our Legislature are good folks and anytime something happens like this it just tends to tarnish that a bit,” he said.

Eichorn is the only person arrested in the sting operation facing a federal charge. Hodges said he wasn’t aware if anyone else will face federal prosecution, but that local law enforcement was already in talks with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take the cases federal before Eichorn’s arrest.

Undercover operation

Bloomington police had been running an undercover operation targeting underage commercial sex and posted an online advertisement to which Eichorn responded on March 11, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges. The advertisement featured images of a person who claimed to be 18.

Sporting a Bloomington Police sticker added by the department, Justin Eichorn’s Toyota Tundra is displayed outside during a news conference at City Hall in Bloomington on Monday, March 24, 2025. Police seized the vehicle and plan to forfeit it. (Nick Ferraro / Pioneer Press)

But in messages and voice chats over several days, the undercover officer repeatedly said she was not 18, but 17 years old. Eichorn continued asking about pricing for various sex acts and arranged to meet in person, according to the charge.

In messages included in the federal criminal complaint, Eichorn allegedly asked the undercover officer about how much it would cost for a “Qv” or quick visit, or a “half hour,” and whether an “outcall” visit would be possible.

Hodges and federal prosecutors say Eichorn’s use of sex work jargon suggests familiarity and experience buying sex. The senator and undercover officer also discussed the age of consent, according to the complaint.

“I am 17…like I said don’t want any drama but wanna be upfront cause one guy got hella mad at me,” the officer posing as a teenager said.

“Why was he so mad? I think age of consent is 17 when do ya turn 18?” the senator replied, before saying he believed the age of consent was 16, and only over 18 if it involves a person in a position of authority, according to the charge.

Related Articles

Jason Adkins: Measuring the economic impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota

Minnesota Wild, St. Paul Saints make pitches for state bonding projects

Sen. Justin Eichorn resigns after soliciting a minor for prostitution charge

Feds charge Sen. Justin Eichorn, Minnesota lawmaker accused of attempting to pay for sex with minor

St. Paul looks to state for half of $769 million renovation of the Xcel Center

Officers eventually arranged to meet with Eichorn at the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard on Monday evening, according to Bloomington police. Before meeting, Eichorn asked for a verification photo of the person he believed was a 17-year-old wearing a ”bra and underwear holding up 2 fingers.”

The senator arrived in a Toyota Tundra pickup truck and was arrested by uniformed officers without incident, according to police. That truck and a GMC pickup seized in another sting remain in the possession of the Bloomington Police Department.

Nick Ferraro contributed to this story.

By Myscha Theriault, Tribune News Service

A subway snafu snagged your back pocket? I feel you. Busted button left you with a boob gap? I’ve been there. Whether it’s securing a frayed coat cuff, stitching a backpack zipper, or handling a hem malfunction, managing your mending supplies in advance means less problem solving and more vacation fun.

Related Articles

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport upgrading snow removal equipment

Jersey Shore beach tag prices for 2025: How much it’ll cost to hit the sand

A 72-hour stopover in Ethiopia offers travelers ancient wonders and city adventures

Hawaii emerges as a top stargazing location globally

Carnival is opening a private resort for cruise passengers. Here’s what’s in the works

Follow these tips to soup up your travel sewing kit.

Storage

Got an old zippered wrist wallet or keychain coin purse? Consider repurposing it as a portable supply stash. For those who enjoy needlework projects while traveling, this option provides a bit of extra wiggle room. If you don’t have one at home, these things are abundant at most thrift stores. Simply select a size that suits how tiny or roomy you want your gear rig to be. Anything from a flat pouch sized for credit cards, to a larger one with more compartments is fair game. Other ideas include a clear mint container, an empty lipstick tube, or a zippered pencil pouch.

Space

For one-bag travelers, any opportunity to maximize luggage room is welcome. Sewing satchels are no exception. Cardboard strips wrapped with thread strands may be the standard default, but for carving out extra kit capacity, my money’s on toothpicks. A single one holds numerous hues, lets you coordinate with your chosen travel duds, and leaves a larger spot for other supplies. Thimbles may not be on your stitching short list, but one mending mishap with the thicker fabric of your backpack or blue jeans may make you reconsider. Switching from an old-school metal one to a collapsible leather thimble can create just the right-sized slot.

A wallet purse provides numerous slots for threads, buttons, needles, patch fabric and more. (Myscha Theriault/Myscha Theriault/TNS)

Similarly, small folding scissors are another space-saving solution well suited for travel. Fiskars makes a decent set you can find in most sewing or craft stores, but others exist. For example, Victorinox sells tiny replacement scissors for their Swiss card for less than 10 bucks. Folding keychain scissors also exist in a wide array of designs and price points. According to the TSA website, as long as the blade length of your scissors is less than 4 inches from the pivot point, you are allowed to place it in your carry-on luggage. This restriction still leaves plenty of choices available for one-bag travelers.

Supplies

I find it helpful to consider the kit as a resource for dealing with all sorts of wardrobe situations, rather than just basic mending. To that end, double-sided fashion tape, multiple sizes of safety pins, and miniature tubes of adhesive regularly find their way into my supply stash. Having them on hand over the years has enabled me to deal with a loose boot heel during a walking tour, replace a hood drawstring after a laundry mishap, and perform emergency patch jobs until I could return to my hotel for a proper repair. When there’s room, a few nifty extras include a small bit of beeswax for thread conditioning, a seam ripper and a small piece of tailor’s chalk.

Style

Not only can temporary alterations to clothing items change up your day-to-day styling options, they can also ensure your carefully chosen, one-bag wardrobe will go the distance on a lengthy travel adventure. An easy way I mix things up is with temporary hat embellishments. Lightly stitching a beaded ribbon around the inner part of a fedora brim or repurposing a chain bracelet to decorate the front of a baseball cap are both short-term ways to switch up a vacation outfit.

Multiple household items can be repurposed to house mending and needlework supplies. (Myscha Theriault/Myscha Theriault/TNS)

Visible mending is another interesting way to manage wear and tear on your apparel. Sashiko, a traditional Japanese method that marries decorative stitching with sturdy reinforcement, uses minimal supplies and simple hand stitches to secure small rips and worn areas in a visually pleasing way.

Bottom line? There are plenty of situations where knowing how to sew on the go comes in handy. Helping a fellow traveler with a minor mend, repairing small upholstery snags when your pet-sitting charge gets a bit too playful, and securing gear seams are all simplified with the right selection of tools and supplies. With a rudimentary skill set and a little advanced planning, you too can prep the perfect travel sewing kit for your needs.

©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

The election to fill a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat has become a referendum not only on the new administration, but on Elon Musk, the billionaire who has become one of President Donald Trump ‘s top financial backers and the architect of his efforts to slash the federal workforce.

The April 1 election is the first major test in American politics since Trump secured a second term in November. It will serve as a crucial barometer of enthusiasm in both parties heading into next year’s midterm elections and is happening in a critical battleground state that Trump won by less than a percentage point.

Related Articles

Trump demands his ‘distorted’ portrait in Colorado’s Capitol be taken down

Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House, has died

12 dozen lawmakers accused in 8 years. Women in the statehouse weigh #MeToo’s impact

Judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive information at US agencies

Trump says countries that buy Venezuelan oil will face 25% tariff

It’s also a test for Musk himself. The Tesla CEO’s nascent political operation, which spent more than $200 million to help Trump win in November, is canvassing and advertising in Wisconsin on behalf of the conservative candidate. A win would cement his status as a conservative kingmaker, while a loss could give license to Republicans distancing themselves from his efforts to stymie government functions and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs.

“This is the first major election held since Donald Trump took office,” said Anthony Chergosky, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “And I think notably Democrats are concentrating more on Elon Musk than Donald Trump.”

Musk, who is the race’s biggest donor by far, has also inserted himself into the race, holding a get-out-the-vote event on his X platform Saturday.

“It might not seem important, but it’s actually really important. And it could determine the fate of the country,” he said. “This election is going to affect everyone in the United States.”

April 1’s election will determine majority control of a court facing critical issues: abortion rights, collective bargaining and voter access. They include decisions that could have major implications for the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election, particularly if they end up hearing challenges to the state’s congressional maps, which could theoretically swing the balance of power in Washington if they are considerably redrawn.

In 2020, the court rejected Trump’s attempts to overturn his election loss in the battleground state in a 4-3 ruling. Trump had sought to have 221,000 ballots disqualified in the state’s two most Democratic counties.

Trump inflatables and America PAC petitions

The Supreme Court race is officially nonpartisan, but the campaign has been anything but. Brad Schimel, the Republican-backed candidate, has openly courted Trump’s endorsement, which he received on Friday night, as he campaigns against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democrat-backed candidate.

Former Wisconsin Attorney General and state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, middle, greets Donald Trump Jr., as Charlie Kirk looks on during a town hall Monday, March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

The Waukesha County judge and former Republican attorney general attended the president’s inauguration in January, has said that he would be part of a “support system” for Trump. Earlier this month, he attended a “Mega MAGA rally” where he posed for a picture in front of a giant inflatable version of the president, which had a “Vote Brad Schimel Supreme Court” poster plastered on its chest.

He spoke on Musk’s get-out-the-vote call on Saturday. And he joined the president’s eldest son on stage at a get-out-the-vote rally, where Donald Trump Jr. said a Schimel win would protect his father’s agenda and keep up GOP momentum.

“We can’t just show up when Trump’s on the ticket,” he said at a brewery in the Milwaukee suburbs. “You have to engage because it’s not just about now, it’s about that future. This presidency could be put to a halt with this vote.”

Schimel has also resurfaced long-debunked conspiracies about voter fraud that Trump has embraced, urging his supporters to vote early to “make this too big to rig so we don’t have to worry that at 11:30 in Milwaukee, they’re going to find bags of ballots that they forgot to put into the machines.”

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford participate in a debate Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Still, he pledged to judge any case that comes before him on its merits — including potential cases involving Trump and Musk.

Republicans have cast the race as a chance for Trump’s loyal supporters to rally around their leader and push back against liberal judges they accuse of working to stymie his agenda.

Mailers from Musk’s America PAC feature photographs of the president. “President Donald Trump needs your vote,” they read. Others warn that “Liberal Susan Crawford will stop President Trump’s agenda.”

America PAC is also offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition in opposition to “activist judges” — and another $100 for each signer they refer.

Republicans have argued that if even 60% of the voters who cast ballots for Trump in November turn out, Schimel can win, helping to drive momentum for the party heading into next year’s midterms.

“In theory, the opposition party should be energized, but we’re feeling very good about the energy on our side of the aisle,” said Andrew Iverson, Wisconsin GOP executive director.

Protesters gather outside the Marquette Lubar Center before a Wisconsin Supreme Court debate between candidates Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Andrew Romeo, senior adviser to the Musk-backed group Building America’s Future, which has spent millions on the race, issued a recent memo advising Schimel’s campaign to remind voters that he is “a strong conservative and Trump ally.”

Two groups funded by Musk have so far spent more than $13 million on the race, according to a tally by the liberal Brennan Center for Justice — with plans to spend around $20 million total.

Musk donated another $2 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party on Thursday, the same day the party gave $1.2 million to Schimel’s campaign.

Under Wisconsin law, contributions to candidates are capped, but candidates can accept unlimited cash from state parties, which in turn can accept unlimited cash from donors.

His spending has helped make the race the most expensive judicial election in the nation’s history, with nearly $67 million spent so far, breaking the record set by another Wisconsin Supreme Court race two years ago.

Crawford has also received her own support from billionaires, including philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Democrats want the race to be ‘The People vs. Musk’

Democrats are hoping to channel their voters’ outrage at the Trump administration by casting the race as an opportunity to stand up to Musk. After nearly a decade of running against the president, they see Musk as a potentially more divisive figure who can motivate their base voters to turn out.

“This race is the first real test point in the country on Elon Musk and his influence on our politics, and voters want an opportunity to push back on that and the influence he is trying to make on Wisconsin and the rest of country,” said Crawford campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman.

A man places his ballot in a box during early voting in Waukesha, Wis Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

State Democrats have hosted a series of anti-Musk town halls, including one featuring former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, and featured Musk heavily in ads.

Crawford has also seized on Musk, going as far as to refer to her opponent as “Elon Schimel” during a recent debate.

“Don’t let Elon buy the Supreme Court,” read billboards paid for the state Democratic party that depict Musk as Schimel’s puppeteer.

Carla Raupp holds a sign during a town hall meeting at the George Culver Community Library Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sauk City, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

“There’s so many people who are desperate for a way to fight back against what Trump and Musk are doing nationally,” said Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic Party chair, and see the race as an “opportunity to punch back.”

Wikler said the party had seen an “explosive surge” in grassroots and small-donor fundraising from across the country tied to Musk’s involvement. Both in Wisconsin and nationally, Democrats are packing town halls and angrily protesting the Trump administration’s firings of thousands of workers and shutdown of agencies. They have also show disillusionment with their party’s own leaders.

“Most voters still don’t know who Crawford and and Schimel are, but they have extremely strong feelings about Musk and Trump,” he said.

What’s at stake for Musk

Musk said Saturday that he became involved in the race because it “will decide how the Congressional districts are drawn in Wisconsin,” echoing Schimel’s claims that Crawford would push through new congressional maps that could favor Democrats.

Schimel’s campaign has relentlessly attacked Crawford for participating in a call with Democratic donors that was advertised in an email as a “chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026,” a reference to the state’s redistricting fights that have played out for years.

A woman wearing a Donald Trump and Saint Patrick’s Day themed hoodie enjoys a beer before a town hall meeting Monday, March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Crawford has said that she didn’t know that that was how the call had been billed when she joined and that nothing of that nature had been discussed while she was on the line.

“In my opinion, that’s the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the Congressional majority is so razor-thin,” Musk said. “It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place, and then we wouldn’t be able to get through the changes that the American people want.”

Musk has also been giving money to Republican members of Congress who have echoed his calls to impeach federal judges whose decisions he doesn’t like.

He has other interests at play.

Democrats and Crawford have noted that, just days before Musk’s groups started spending on the race, Musk’s electric car company Tesla sued Wisconsin over a rule banning car manufacturers from operating dealerships — forcing buyers to purchase Teslas out of state.

The case could ultimately go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report.

Saturday’s return of defenseman Jonas Brodin for the Wild’s 4-1 home win over Buffalo fueled hopes of Minnesota fans that the roster might be returning to some semblance of fuller health as the playoffs – and a brutal three-game stretch of games – approach.

Those hopes were dashed on Monday morning in Texas.

Meeting with reporters prior to the Wild’s Monday night game at Dallas, coach John Hynes revealed that Brodin – for the fifth time this season – would be out of the lineup, due to a lower body injury, although his return could come as soon as Tuesday. Hynes denied that Brodin aggravated the injury that had caused him to miss the Wild’s previous nine games, before playing 20 minutes versus the Sabres, and said it is more a situation where they want to ease the veteran blueliner back into the lineup gradually.

“It wasn’t reaggravation, it’s just day to day,” Hynes said after the team’s morning skate at American Airlines Center. “He’s been off for so long, and I think it was an opportunity for him to get into a game and play, and then we’re getting on a plane less than 24 hours later, going into a back-to-back. With (Brodin) I would classify him day to day every day as he’s coming back from this transition from having a long time off.”

Brodin, 31, has played in 39 games this season, recording four goals and 14 assists. The game at Dallas on Monday was the 31st this season that he has missed due to injury. Picked by the Wild 10th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, Brodin had a nine-game stint in the AHL in the 2012-13 season, and has been a mainstay on the Wild blue line since then.

Hynes said it is possible that Brodin could return to the lineup for this week’s home games versus Vegas and Washington, but they will be monitoring his load management.

“We’ll see how he feels today, see what it is tomorrow. Maybe he plays tomorrow, maybe he plays Thursday,” Hynes said. “We’re trying to be really cognizant of a player being off for a long time, with the type of injury that he had, making sure we’re putting him in situations where he can come back and play at a high level, but also not throwing him right into a situation where it could get reaggravated or something like that. Now it’s just more maintenance of the player and the schedule, making sure he’s going to be able to continue to play.”

On Sunday, the Wild recalled defenseman Cameron Crotty from Iowa as an extra skater if needed. Hynes said Declan Chisholm, who was a healthy scratch versus Buffalo, would return to the Minnesota blue line for the game in Dallas.

While they expect Brodin back in the lineup for a potential playoff run, Wild management is also keeping an eye on University of Denver sophomore Zeev Buium, who was named the NCHC’s most valuable player last week in St. Paul, and was the Wild’s first round draft pick last summer. Denver, which is the defending national champion, opens the 16-team NCAA tournament on Friday afternoon versus Providence in Manchester, N.H. There is a good chance that Buium could sign with the Wild as soon as the Pioneers’ season concludes.

NHL Honors Gustavsson

One not-so-secret element to Minnesota’s three-game win streak last week was the stellar goaltending they got from Filip Gustavsson. On Monday, the rest of the NHL took notice.

Gustavsson, 26, was named the league’s first star of the week, after he stopped 82 of the 84 shots he faced in wins over Los Angeles, Seattle and Buffalo. The 4-0 blanking of the Kraken was his 11st career shutout and his fifth of the season. He has appeared in 48 games for the Wild this season with a 28-15-4 record.

Related Articles

Contenders or pretenders? Wild may find out this week

Justin Brazeau’s net-front offense comes at the right time for Wild

Wild’s second-period salvo sinks Sabres

Wild players acknowledge ‘friendly fire’ is painful, but normal, in hockey

Post-suspension, Wild forward Ryan Hartman making the most of his return