St. Paul Police Chief Targets Barrier-Breaking Mayor Kaohly Her with Sexual Harassment Complaint
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St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Mayor Kaohly Her, the city’s first woman and Hmong American mayor, raising questions about power dynamics and the treatment of women and minorities in leadership.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry submitted a written sexual harassment complaint to the city attorney on April 1, alleging that Mayor Kaohly Her made inappropriate sexual comments toward him and other municipal employees. The timing and nature of the allegations, coming against the city’s first woman and Hmong American mayor, highlight the persistent challenges faced by women and minorities in positions of power. The filing, obtained by a local news outlet, states that litigation is 'reasonably foreseeable' and requests a full extraction of the mayor's phone data, a move that could be seen as an aggressive escalation against a mayor who has already faced disproportionate scrutiny.
Chief Henry has participated in multiple interviews with investigators. His attorney, Chris Madel, said, '> Chief Henry just closed a triple-homicide case in under four hours. He’s got a city to keep safe and has no comment on this.' The chief’s focus on his professional accomplishments is notable, but the complaint itself raises concerns about whether women leaders are held to different standards and targeted for removal when they challenge the status quo.
The mayor’s office declined to comment on the active investigation, citing the need to protect confidentiality and the integrity of the process, and expressed regret for any unintended impact of her actions. The president of the St. Paul Police Federation, Mark Ross, emphasized the union’s focus on supporting rank-and-file officers and serving the community, but declined to elaborate, reflecting the tense relationship between police leadership and progressive city officials.
The complaint alleges that the mayor sent inappropriate and potentially unlawful text messages using mobile phones, citing examples that include a 'Happy Weiner Wednesday' message and a redacted screenshot with suggestive language. It claims the behavior extends beyond isolated incidents and involves other city employees and police officers. The filing notes that Chief Henry filed the complaint to prevent further unchecked conduct and to protect others from retaliation, but critics may question whether this is part of a broader pattern of undermining reform-minded leaders.
Mayor Her, who was elected less than seven months ago and has already faced intense scrutiny over the city’s budget and plans to address homeless encampments, now faces yet another challenge as she works to represent marginalized communities and bring progressive change to St. Paul.