St. Paul Police Chief Sues Mayor Over Harassment Claims, Disputing City Investigation

Key points

• Chief Axel Henry filed a civil suit in Ramsey County District Court on September 23, 2026, alleging Mayor Kaohly Her sexually harassed him and other employees between December 2025 and early 2026.
• The lawsuit details specific incidents, including Her referring to herself as a 'MILF,' making sexual noises at the police gym, and placing her hand on Henry’s upper thigh during a budget meeting.
• Henry claims the city retaliated by withholding a pay increase, excluding him from decisions, and hiring a PR firm to attack his reputation after he filed an internal complaint.
• The city’s HR investigation, concluded on September 14, found Her engaged in offensive conduct but could not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation, leading to a two-page public summary.
• Henry’s legal team calls the summary a 'sanitized' version and seeks the full report, alleging its withholding violates state law; the mayor’s office denies the allegations and cites the investigation's findings.
• Her has apologized for being 'too informal' and agreed to attend workplace conduct training and hire an executive coach at her own expense, as recommended by the city.

Background

This dispute follows the September 14 release of a city HR investigation summary regarding Mayor Her’s conduct. The investigation, prompted by Henry’s internal complaint, found Her’s behavior inappropriate but did not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation. Her, who took office in January 2026 as St. Paul’s first female and Hmong mayor, has since transferred her security detail from the police department to the county sheriff’s office. The current lawsuit marks the first time a St. Paul mayor has been sued by a city official in this manner, according to legal experts.

How outlets are covering it

Fox News and MS NOW emphasize the specific allegations in the 73-page lawsuit, including explicit comments, physical contact, and doctored photos, while noting Her’s apology and cooperation with the investigation. KSTP highlights the legal complexities, noting that the city’s investigation findings do not prevent Henry from pursuing claims in court and that the case could take 18 months to reach trial. FOX 9 focuses on the dispute over the full investigative report, with Henry’s attorney calling the public summary a 'whitewash' and alleging the city withheld information to protect the mayor. All sources agree that the case is highly unusual for Minnesota, pitting two top city officials against each other, and that the public interest in the full report is significant.

Why it matters

The lawsuit threatens to disrupt city operations and public safety in St. Paul, as the mayor and police chief are now adversaries. The dispute over the full investigative report raises questions about transparency and accountability in local government. If the case proceeds to trial, it could result in significant financial costs for the city, which is self-insured, and may set a precedent for handling harassment claims involving elected officials.

What to watch

The case will proceed through Ramsey County District Court, with a potential trial in approximately 18 months if not settled. Legal experts expect a high likelihood of settlement before trial. The city is likely to resist releasing the full investigative report, but it may be subpoenaed. Other city employees may come forward with similar claims, and the outcome could impact public safety and city operations.