Justin Eichorn's wife's 'astonishing act of loyalty' after Minnesota senator was 'caught trying to rape underage child'

The wife of the disgraced ex-senator who was caught allegedly trying to rape an underage child tried to help him cover his tracks just before FBI agents swooped in, according to prosecutors. 

Republican Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn, 40, was arrested in his car last week after he allegedly arranged to meet up with who he thought was a 17-year-old girl for sex. 

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, his wife Brittany allegedly helped Eichorn clean up his St. Paul's apartment by collecting a gun, laptop and cellphone, all before agents could search the property, in an astonishing act of spousal loyalty.

Brittany filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on Monday.

During his probable cause and detention hearing on Wednesday, Eichorn's attorney, Charles Hawkins, said those accusations were false, and that he and Brittany discussed in jail phone calls that she had left her work computer at the apartment that she wanted to pick up. 

The couple, from Grand Rapids, manage 138 apartment units across five buildings, the Star Tribune reported. 

FBI agents were sitting on the St. Paul apartment on March 17 waiting for a search warrant to be signed when Brittany arrived and asked if she could retrieve her computer, but was denied access, the outlet said.  

According to U.S. Attorney Daniel Bobier, Eichorn 'thought his wife would go in there and clean out the apartment' before officials arrived. 

Eichorn remained in jail over the weekend after FBI agents discovered a gun inside the property, something that the U.S. Attorney's Office said he lied about to his probation officer, the outlet reported. 

Special Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ordered Eichorn be released from federal jail to a halfway house to await his trial, after stating that the evidence presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office was 'much less clear.' 

'The evidence presented here today is much less clear than the government’s brief,' Elkins said, noting that it was possible the couple's discussion was about business. 

'Time will tell,' she added, referring to the government having possession of his laptop. He is to remain at the halfway house with a GPS on. 

A court had initially granted him conditional release to a halfway house but that was revoked on Monday after prosecutors revealed the new claims against the disgraced politician. 

Eichorn was caught in a sting operation, as Bloomington Police said a detective arranged to meet with the married father-of-four near the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard.

He was observed arriving in his pickup truck - before being arrested without incident outside of his vehicle by uniformed officers. 

'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 said at the time. 

During the hearing on Wednesday,  Matthew Vogel, a special agent with the Minnesota FBI field office, testified and revealed the details of the messages sent between Eichorn and the undercover agent. 

Vogel said Eichorn communicated using a Voice over Internet Protocol, which is typically used by those trying to hide their identity online. 

He also noted that the politician had knowledge of the shorthand and slang from online ads that are used for sex workers. 

'He understands the lingo of these kind of interactions, the idioms,' Vogel said. 

When Bobier asked if that showed that Eichorn had familiarity with sex work, Vogel said it did. 

Vogel said that he also knew how to distinguish whether advertisements were fake or part of a police operation. 

Cops placed ads on websites that are known for sex trafficking, which were then picked up by other sites.  

Eichorn allegedly made contact with the so-called 17-year-old and asked: 'What’s a guy gotta do to get with the hottest girl online tonight?' 

The following day he allegedly messaged her again, asking if they could meet for a quick visit and 30 minutes of sex. The undercover cop then sent him rates for the visit of $80-$120. 

He then asked how old the girl was, and after the cop confirmed, he continued to text her. 

'The indication is that he’s concerned about making sure this young woman is of legal age,' Hawkins said. 

Following his arrest, his truck was towed. Officers found $130 in cash inside, condoms and two cell phones. 

During the home search, they found a bag on the counter containing $1,000 in cash, a handgun and ammunition, a laptop computer, an SD memory card, an iPhone and several of Eichorn's Senate business cards, prosecutors said. 

They said the iPhone appeared to have been reset to its factory settings, which can erase all content on the device.

Brittany filed for divorce in Itasca County Court just days after the devastating allegations came to light. 

Eichorn was first elected in 2016, according to his senate biography.

He resigned after he was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. 

Eichorn had been facing immense pressure both from within his party and the Democrats to resign after his arrest.

'We are shocked by these reports, and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation. Justin has a difficult road ahead, and he needs to focus on his family,' the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus said.

State House Republican leadership also called on Eichorn to resign after the news of his arrest broke.

'Given the seriousness of the charges, Senator Eichorn should resign. While he is entitled to due process, we must hold legislators to a higher standard,' they said.

Minnesota Democrats also condemned his actions and called him a danger to the public.

'No one who solicits children belongs anywhere near public office or the State Capitol,' said Minnesota DFL executive director Heidi Kraus Kaplan.