St. Paul mayor found to have breached workplace norms, but harassment claims fail

Key points

• The investigation, which began in April and concluded on September 14, found Her violated workplace conduct policies by sharing offensive material and behaving inappropriately with employees.
• HR director Kamaria Kassim stated that claims of sexual harassment, inappropriate text messages, sexual noises during exercise, and retaliation were not substantiated.
• Her was directed to maintain professional boundaries, undergo workplace conduct training, and retain an executive coach at her own expense, with monthly check-ins for six months.
• Police Chief Axel Henry, who filed the initial complaint, received a letter confirming the investigation’s completion but no specific findings regarding his claims.
• The full investigative report has not been released to the public, only a summary letter from HR.

Background

This follows earlier coverage in September 2026 regarding the completion of the HR investigation. The probe was triggered by a formal complaint from Police Chief Axel Henry in March 2026, alleging inappropriate sexual comments and text messages. The allegations became public in July 2026, prompting the city to hire an outside law firm. This case is distinct from other recent local political scandals, such as the ethics probe into North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards or the sentencing of Louisiana ex-mayor Misty Roberts, but shares themes of workplace conduct violations by elected officials.

How outlets are covering it

MPR News and 5 EYEWITNESS News reported the core findings similarly, noting the distinction between substantiated offensive behavior and unsubstantiated harassment. 5 EYEWITNESS emphasized the transparency concerns raised by media-law scholar Jane Kirtley regarding the withheld full report. FOX 9 provided a detailed timeline, noting Henry’s initial report on March 30 and a retaliation report on June 16. The perspective of Police Chief Henry’s attorney, Chris Madel, sharply diverged from the city’s; he called the summary a 'sanitized whitewash' and claimed five witnesses confirmed the mayor made sexual noises in the police gym, a claim HR found unsubstantiated. Her’s statement focused on her 'informal' communication style and expressed disappointment that allegations were shared with media during the confidential process.

Why it matters

The outcome sets a precedent for how St. Paul handles high-profile workplace complaints, balancing employee rights with public transparency. The requirement for the mayor to pay for an executive coach and undergo monthly monitoring signals a significant administrative consequence, even without a formal finding of harassment. The dispute over the full report’s release highlights ongoing tensions between city transparency and legal privacy in HR investigations.

What to watch

Her is expected to comply with the HR recommendations, including training and coaching, with monthly follow-ups scheduled for the next six months. The city has not indicated whether it will release the full investigative report. Police Chief Henry’s attorney has called for the full report to be published, suggesting potential further legal or public pressure on the city.