St. Paul Mayor Faces Investigation Over Alleged Harassment and Inappropriate Texts
Mayor Kaohly Her is under a city-ordered sexual harassment investigation after multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct, including alleged inappropriate texts to a city employee, prompting the police chief's attorney to warn that litigation is foreseeable.
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is the subject of a city-commissioned sexual harassment investigation following several complaints of inappropriate behavior. The mayor’s attorney confirmed that the police chief’s lawyer sent a letter on April 1 stating that Her had sent "inappropriate and ... unlawful text messages" to a city employee and that litigation is "reasonably foreseeable."
Former deputy police chief Joe Thompson, now represented by former acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson, alleged that Her displayed her breasts and made sexual comments to the deputy chief in a police department locker room, and that she made sexualized noises in the gym. A former City Hall staffer also recounted that Her had repeatedly grabbed a male colleague’s buttocks in public settings and referenced the incidents to others.
The mayor issued a statement saying she respects the investigative process and is confident that the full facts will emerge, adding that she regrets any unintended impact of her actions. Police Chief Axel Henry sent an email to department staff urging respect for the investigation and discouraging speculation.
The city’s human-resources department has hired an outside law firm to conduct the probe. The mayor’s office described the investigation as a standard response to a complaint. The matter has drawn public reaction, with some calling for Her’s resignation and others defending her conduct as typical of her unfiltered style.
The investigation occurs amid ongoing city challenges, including budget discussions, police-homelessness tensions, and upcoming plans to clear homeless encampments.