St. Paul police chief sues mayor, city over sexual harassment, retaliation

Although a city investigation did not substantiate the sexual harassment claims, the police chief said the report was selective and favorable to the mayor.MINNEAPOLIS (CN) — St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry filed a lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her and the city on Wednesday, claiming Her sexually harassed him for months and city officials retaliated against him for reporting it.The filing follows months of tension and escalation between the police chief and the mayor that began with internal complaints that triggered an independent investigation into Her’s workplace conduct.In the lawsuit filed in Ramsey County District Court, Henry accuses Her and the city of whistleblower retaliation, data practices violations and state human rights violations, in addition to sexual harassment and battery claims against the mayor.Henry claims Mayor Her began sexually harassing him last winter, engaging in conduct that included making sexual innuendos to him concerning his genitalia, doctoring sexualized photos of him and other officers and subjecting him to “unwanted and nonconsensual” physical contact — defined as Her placing her hand on his upper thigh twice during a budget meeting.The primary doctored photo referenced in the suit depicts Henry and other officers as bodybuilders with “prominent bulges” in the crotch area. Others include images of officers appearing as boy band members and UFC fighters.Henry also claims Her would frequently go to the St. Paul Police Department gym when he and others worked out, and that she would make “noises simulating an orgasm” while she worked out near them.He also said the mayor made inappropriate comments to the officers working out, such as calling them “beefy.”Collectively, Her’s actions led Henry to report the mayor for sexual harassment in March, a decision he did not take lightly, according to Henry.“He understood the professional and personal consequences of doing so,” Henry’s attorney writes in the complaint. “He knew that accusing the mayor of St. Paul of sexual harassment could jeopardize his career. He reported it anyway.”Rather than Her facing accountability for the supposed misconduct, Henry says her administration and other city officials embarked on a retaliation campaign designed to attack him and discredit his claims.This retaliation included excluding Henry from personnel-related decisions, withholding records he requested under the data practices act and issuing a public summary of the city’s investigation that “falsely minimized” the conduct reported by Henry and backed by others.The investigation, released last week by St. Paul’s Human Resources department, found Mayor Her engaged in “offensive and inappropriate behavior,” though it did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation.In a statement after the release, Her said she was “gratified” that those two claims were unsubstantiated, adding she would comply with all recommended action steps.“I take my responsibilities as Mayor and as a community leader seriously,” she said in the statement. “That is why I cooperated fully with the independent investigation conducted for the city of St. Paul regarding the allegations against me.”However, Henry says in his complaint the city has refused to turn over the full investigation report — instead selectively disclosing information favorable to Her and withholding damaging information.“Sexual harassment is wrong regardless of who commits it,” Henry says in the complaint. “It does not become acceptable because the alleged harasser is a woman, because the target is a man, or because the alleged harasser happens to be the Mayor.”Henry — who has led the St. Paul Police Department since 2022 — added that reporting sexual harassment shouldn’t make the person who reports it the target of retaliation, but “that is precisely what happened here.”Henry’s attorney, Christopher Madel, added they look forward to proving their claims in court rather than relying on a “sanitized summary written by the city about itself.”“Axel Henry is an honorable man and a dedicated public servant,” Madel said in a statement. “He didn’t come forward for attention or advantage — he came forward because what happened was wrong and needed to be reported.”Her’s office notably announced Wednesday she dropped the St. Paul Police Department from her security detail earlier this month in favor of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.“An independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee,” Matt Wagenius, director of public affairs and communications for Her, said in an email to Courthouse News. “The Mayor will continue to lead Saint Paul and follow the recommendations of the report.”The city of St. Paul said it does not comment on active litigation.Her took office in January, becoming the city’s first female and Hmong American mayor.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads