St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her found to have violated workplace conduct policies

A full investigative report into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has revealed multiple violations of the city’s workplace conduct policy, including unwanted physical contact and sexually suggestive messaging. While investigators did not substantiate allegations of sexual harassment or retaliation, they confirmed that Her engaged in inappropriate behavior, such as touching Police Chief Axel Henry’s thigh in an unwelcome manner during a budget meeting.

The report also detailed the use of a sexually suggestive meme and the creation of doctored photographs involving male police officers. These findings follow a previous two-page summary from the city’s human resources director that had characterized the behavior as ‘offensive’ and ‘inappropriate’ but stopped short of the full details.

Chief Henry has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Mayor, alleging sexual advances and subsequent retaliation. His attorney, Chris Madel, criticized the city’s initial summary as a ‘sanitized, self-serving whitewash’ intended to protect the Mayor. In response to the lawsuit, the St. Paul City Council voted unanimously to hire outside attorneys at rates up to $500 per hour to defend Her, with taxpayer funds covering the legal costs.