St. Paul Police Chief Sues Mayor, Alleging Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a 73-page lawsuit against St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, accusing her of sexual harassment, unwanted physical contact, and a retaliatory campaign after he filed an internal complaint.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a 73-page lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her, accusing her of sexual harassment, unwanted physical contact, and a retaliatory campaign after he reported her conduct. The complaint, which names both Her and the city, alleges that the mayor made explicit sexual comments, including referring to herself as a «MILF» and making innuendos about the chief's body, and that she engaged in a pattern of behavior designed to pressure and later punish him.
According to the filing, the harassment began with a series of inappropriate remarks and escalated into unwanted physical contact. The lawsuit claims that during a budget meeting, Her placed her hand on Henry's upper thigh beneath a conference table. On another occasion, at an awards ceremony where Henry wore a Mobile Field Force ribbon abbreviated «MFF,» Her allegedly asked what the letters stood for before saying, «Oh, I thought it said MILF so maybe I could get one.» The complaint also states that Her frequently visited the police department gym when she knew Henry was present, referred to him and other employees as «beefy,» and simulated an orgasm while exerting herself near them during workouts.
The lawsuit further alleges that Her made unwanted personal advances, telling the chief that her marriage was in trouble and that the two «needed to be friends» or «this was not going to work,» emphasizing that they needed a «close relationship.» In December, Henry met with Her and St. Paul Port Authority President Todd Hurley at a cigar lounge to discuss moving the downtown police station. During that meeting, Her allegedly threatened to tell people the chief «grabbed her a--» if she did not get her way. In February, after Henry and a colleague used personal vacation time to visit a golf simulator in Woodbury, Minnesota, Her unexpectedly appeared, telling them she «had to come like this because you guys wouldn't invite me» and staying for about 20 minutes, according to the suit.
After Henry filed an internal complaint regarding her behavior, the lawsuit claims that Her and her administration «embarked on a campaign to retaliate against and discredit Chief Henry.» The suit alleges that city officials excluded him from decisions, withheld requested records, and released a «sanitized» two-page summary of an independent investigation to downplay the mayor's conduct. Henry, who has served as St. Paul's top law enforcement officer since 2022, is seeking damages and other relief.
Her office has denied the allegations, stating that an independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee. «The mayor will continue to lead Saint Paul and follow the recommendations of the report,» her office said. «Beyond that, the City of Saint Paul doesn't comment on active litigation.» Earlier this month, Her transferred her personal security detail and driver services from the St. Paul Police Department to the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, a move that came amid the escalating dispute.
The lawsuit adds to a growing list of high-profile sexual harassment cases involving public officials across the country, including a recent investigation into New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Mikie Sherrill and an ethics report detailing a GOP lawmaker's conduct toward young staffers. In St. Paul, the case has raised questions about the relationship between the city's top elected official and its police chief, and it is likely to intensify scrutiny of the mayor's office as the litigation proceeds. Fox News Digital has reached out to Her's office for additional comment.
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