St. Paul Police Chief Files Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Mayor Kaohly Her
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging inappropriate behavior directed toward him and other members of the police force during her initial months in office. Chief Henry alerted top city officials in March regarding a series of incidents involving the mayor, according to municipal records reviewed by The Times. In response to the allegations, the city has retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the mayor’s conduct.
Investigation Led by Outside Law Firm as City Hall Faces Broader Challenges
The independent review is being managed by Cally Kjellberg-Nelson, an employment law expert at Resolute Law. The inquiry coincides with multiple significant challenges facing St. Paul, which earlier in the year was the focus of a federal immigration crackdown. City Hall is currently navigating a projected $26 million deficit alongside highly debated efforts to clear a large homeless encampment, while uncertainty remains regarding how the undisclosed investigation is impacting municipal business.
Legal Representation Details Allegations and Evidence
In an April 1 letter to City Attorney Irene Kao, Chris Madel, an attorney representing Chief Henry, stated that the police chief planned to act as a formal complainant after discovering the mayor’s conduct extended beyond isolated incidents to include sexual harassment of subordinate city employees. The correspondence included a screenshot of a text message provided by the mayor to a city employee, containing an image and a message reading, “When she wraps you up in her blanket after you gave her a good weinering,” accompanied by two crying laughter emojis.
Mayoral Response and Political Background of St. Paul’s Leadership
Matt Wagenius, a spokesman for Mayor Her, stated in an emailed statement that he could not answer questions concerning an ongoing investigation and that the administration would honor all applicable laws when determining whether to make the review’s findings public. Mayor Her, who took office in January as the city’s first female and first Asian mayor, declined an interview request, though her spokesman noted she has deep respect for city employees and regrets any unintended impact her actions may have caused. Chief Henry, who has led the department since November 2022 under a six-year term, also declined an interview through his lawyer.
