Probe launched into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her after harassment claims
St. Paul, Minnesota Mayor Kaohly Her is under investigation after Police Chief Axel Henry filed a harassment complaint. Henry alleges the mayor sexually harassed city employees, including officers, and made lewd comments in text messages. Mayor Her states her attempts at humor fell short and confirms cooperation with the independent investigation.
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St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Kaohly Her made explicit sexual comments — including innuendos about body parts — and engaged in a campaign of harassment and retaliation against the city’s police chief, according to a lawsuit.
Police Chief Axel Henry, who has served as St. Paul’s top law enforcement officer since 2022, alleges Her made multiple inappropriate comments, including one incident in which she referred to herself as a “MILF” and made sexually suggestive comments regarding his genitalia, according to the 73-page complaint.
The suit also alleges Her made unwanted physical contact with Henry, including placing her hand on his upper thigh beneath a conference table during a budget meeting.
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St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Kaohly is accused in a lawsuit of sexually harassing the city’s police Chief, Axel Henry. (Getty Images)
In addition, Her reportedly told the chief that her marriage was in trouble, stating that she and Henry “needed to be friends” or “this was not going to work,” and emphasizing that they needed a “close relationship,” according to local reporting on the suit.
The lawsuit further details allegations 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.
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During an awards ceremony where Henry was wearing a Mobile Field Force ribbon abbreviated “MFF,” Her allegedly asked what the letters stood for before replying, “Oh, I thought it said MILF so maybe I could get one.”
The filing outlines another incident from December, when Henry met with Her and St. Paul Port Authority President Todd Hurley at a cigar lounge to discuss moving the downtown police station. During the meeting, Her allegedly threatened that she would tell people the chief “grabbed her a–” if she did not get her way.
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Kaohly Her is sworn in as St. Paul’s first Hmong and first woman mayor at St. Catherine University’s O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. The Rev. Daniel Johnson presided over the oath. Her husband Kong and daughter Ayden were present. (Star Tribune via Getty Images)
In February, after Henry and a colleague used personal vacation time to visit a golf simulator in Woodbury, Minnesota, Her unexpectedly showed up, the lawsuit claims. Upon arriving, Her allegedly told them she “had to come like this because you guys wouldn’t invite me,” before staying for approximately 20 minutes.
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After Henry filed an internal complaint regarding her behavior, Her and her administration “embarked on a campaign to retaliate against and discredit Chief Henry,” the suit alleges. Henry claims city officials excluded him from decisions, withheld requested records, and released a “sanitized” two-page summary of an independent investigation to downplay her conduct.
“An independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee,” Her’s office said, Fox Minneapolis reported. “The Mayor will continue to lead Saint Paul and follow the recommendations of the report. Beyond that, the City of Saint Paul doesn’t comment on active litigation.”
Earlier this month, Her officially transferred her personal security detail and driver services from the St. Paul Police Department to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Her’s office.
