St. Paul’s own probe says the mayor created an “uncomfortable work environment,” yet she remains in charge of the police she allegedly harassed.
Story Snapshot
- The police chief sued the mayor alleging sexual comments, unwanted touching, and retaliation.
- An outside investigation found “offensive and inappropriate” conduct, but not legal harassment.
- Investigators interviewed 11 people and reviewed about 55,000 texts from the mayor’s phones.
- The mayor denies harassment, admits crossing lines, and plans to stay in office.
What the Lawsuit Alleges Against the Mayor
Police Chief Axel Henry filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County in September. He says Mayor Kaohly Her made sexual comments, touched his upper thigh under a table, and made sexual noises in a city gym. He also claims city leaders retaliated after he reported the behavior. These are allegations in a civil case, not proven facts, but they are detailed and specific in press summaries of the filing.
Mayor Her’s office denied the main claims. The mayor says she did not sexually harass or retaliate against any employee. She has also said some texts were attempts at humor that fell short of her own standards. She stated she will not discuss details while the case is in court. She remains in office and says she will continue to lead St. Paul during the litigation.
What the Independent Investigation Found and Did Not Find
The city hired an outside law firm to investigate the complaints. The full report, released by the city, said the mayor’s actions were “offensive and inappropriate” and that she created an “uncomfortable work environment.” However, the investigation did not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation under city policy. That means the conduct crossed workplace rules but did not meet the legal threshold for those labels in the report.
The investigators interviewed the mayor, the chief, and nine other people. They reviewed a large set of records, including more than 55,000 text messages from the mayor’s city and personal phones. That scope suggests serious document review, even if it still left key allegations short of the legal bar. The mayor said she cooperated fully with the process and was glad the report did not find harassment or retaliation.
Why “Inappropriate” Versus “Harassment” Matters for Public Trust
Workplace law draws a line between unprofessional conduct and legal harassment. The line turns on whether behavior is severe or pervasive and whether it changes work conditions. Investigations can find policy violations while still stopping short of the legal standard. That gap leaves leaders in office even after clear rule-breaking, and it fuels doubt about accountability in government workplaces.
Public workers who report issues can be protected from retaliation, even when they join an internal probe. That is the rule the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explains for state and local employees. If the lawsuit proves that negative actions followed a protected complaint, retaliation could still be a live claim. Right now, the public record gives only a basic outline of that timeline.
What This Means for City Governance and Policing
City Hall now asks the police chief to serve under a mayor who, by the city’s own report, created an uncomfortable workplace. That strains trust inside the force and with residents who want safe streets and steady leadership. The dispute also overlaps with budget and policy fights, which raises the stakes for every choice the city makes during the case. Clear boundaries and records matter most when power and public safety mix.
A police chief is suing his own mayor, alleging sexual harassment, unwanted touching and retaliation after he complained.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry claims Mayor Kaohly Her called herself a "MILF," made sexually suggestive remarks about his body and placed her hand on his… pic.twitter.com/wIJvN5jJbf
— Mike Netter (@nettermike) September 27, 2026
Both conservatives and liberals can see the same warning sign here. A system that flags “offensive” conduct but keeps all the key players in place tells workers that rules are flexible for the powerful. The fastest fixes are not partisan: publish as many records as legally allowed, set strict texting and meeting rules, and assign neutral channels for police leadership to report concerns without fear of payback. Sunshine and clean process rebuild trust.
Sources:
twincities.com, cbsnews.com, foxnews.com, axios.com
