St. Paul mayor faces independent probe over alleged sexual harassment
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
An independent investigation has been launched into claims that St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her sent inappropriate messages to city employees, including police staff, after a formal complaint by the police chief.
An outside law firm has been hired to conduct an independent inquiry into allegations that St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her sent inappropriate messages to city employees, including members of the police department, according to documents obtained by news outlets. The investigation follows a letter dated April 1 from attorney Chris Madel, representing Police Chief Axel Henry, to city attorney Irene Kao, stating that Her engaged in a "prolonged campaign of harassment" using mobile phones.
Chief Henry, who has led the department since 2022, filed a formal complaint after determining that the mayor’s conduct extended beyond isolated incidents and involved sexual harassment of subordinate city employees. The letter includes a screenshot of a message allegedly sent by Her that contained a misspelled sexual reference and emojis.
Employment-law specialist Cally Kjellberg-Nelson of Resolute Law is overseeing the probe. Mayor Her said she is cooperating with the investigation and expects the "full facts will come to light." In a statement, she said she takes her responsibility to treat every employee with professionalism and respect seriously and acknowledges that some attempts at humor fell short of her standards.
A spokesperson for the mayor declined to comment on details of the investigation, noting that any public release of the report will comply with applicable laws. Police Chief Henry did not speak to the media but indicated he will ensure appropriate conduct is modeled within the department.
Her, a former state representative who was elected mayor in November 2025, previously served six years in the Minnesota House and immigrated to the United States as a child. The investigation remains ongoing.