St. Paul’s police chief filed a 73-page lawsuit accusing the sitting mayor of sexual harassment after the city’s own review called her conduct “offensive and inappropriate” but stopped short of confirming harassment.
Story Snapshot
- The police chief sued the mayor and city, alleging harassment, battery, and retaliation.
- A city investigation found “offensive and inappropriate” behavior but did not substantiate harassment or retaliation.
- The mayor says she will remain in office and follow the report’s recommendations.
- The case now moves to court, where discovery could surface new records and testimony.
Lawsuit Alleges Harassment And Retaliation
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sued Mayor Kaohly Her and the City of St. Paul in Ramsey County District Court. The complaint seeks a jury trial and damages on multiple counts, including sexual harassment, battery, and whistleblower retaliation. Reporting describes a 73-page filing that details months of alleged misconduct and job-related pressure after he complained about her conduct. National and local outlets summarized the suit’s claims, which include unwanted touching and sexualized comments, all of which the mayor denies.
The New York Times reported that Henry filed suit five days after city leaders released a summary of an outside review. That timing heightened public interest because the city’s human resources summary acknowledged misconduct but did not confirm harassment. The lawsuit argues city officials later retaliated against Henry for speaking up. The city, citing active litigation, declined detailed comment beyond prior statements pointing to the outside review’s conclusions.
City Investigation Found Misconduct Without Harassment
St. Paul’s Human Resources Department released a two-page summary of an outside investigation. The summary said Mayor Her’s behavior toward employees was “offensive and inappropriate” and created discomfort in the workplace. However, investigators did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment, inappropriate messages, sexual noises, or retaliation. Mayor Her responded that she had been “too informal,” pledged to follow recommended steps, and said she was gratified the harassment and retaliation claims were not confirmed.
After the summary, the mayor’s office emphasized that the independent review did not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee. The mayor’s spokesperson said she will continue to lead the city and follow the report’s recommendations. City officials said they do not comment on active court cases. The mismatch between an “offensive and inappropriate” finding and an “unsubstantiated” harassment label now sits at the center of public debate and the chief’s separate lawsuit.
What Moves To Court Could Reveal
Legal experts told a local outlet that the case is entering a phase where depositions, device records, and other materials could emerge through discovery. That process may outlast the city’s internal review and could force release of documents not yet public. Civil litigation often builds a different record than an employer’s first summary. That means the city’s “unsubstantiated” label could be tested against testimony and messages produced under oath in court.
Left-wing mayor who declared 'I am illegal in this country' sued by police chief over alleged touching, sexualizing cops, retaliation | Paul Sacca, Blaze Media
The Democrat mayor allegedly posted images of police leadership 'being mocked and sexualized' in public view.
The… pic.twitter.com/U42PkW6yVO
— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) September 26, 2026
The broader pattern in government workplaces shows how internal reviews and later lawsuits can diverge. Employers control early fact-finding and summaries. Courts later compel sworn statements and records. Many readers on both the right and the left worry that insiders protect insiders. This episode underscores why trust is thin: a city admits “offensive” conduct but stops short of calling it harassment, while the police chief says he faced payback for speaking up. The court will now decide which story the evidence supports.
Sources:
nytimes.com, patch.com, courthousenews.com, stpaul.gov, mprnews.org, cbsnews.com
