The city reportedly investigating St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her after police chief files sexual harassment complaint has hired external legal counsel to review serious allegations of workplace misconduct within city government leadership. News of the independent investigation emerged on Tuesday following published reports confirming that St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry formally notified municipal officials of the grievance earlier this year. According to legal communications obtained by news outlets, a letter dated in April was sent by Chief Henry’s attorney, Chris Madel, to St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao. The filing indicates that Chief Henry took formal action after allegedly becoming aware that inappropriate workplace conduct extended beyond isolated interactions and involved sexually suggestive communications directed toward city employees, including personnel within the police department.
The administrative grievance marks an unprecedented operational friction between the chief of police and the mayor’s office in Minnesota’s capital city. Details surrounding the investigation indicate that the formal complaint specifically references sexually suggestive text messages allegedly sent by Mayor Her to a municipal employee. While municipal officials have declined to share specific evidentiary details or internal records regarding the ongoing administrative review, sources confirmed that the city administration retained a private law firm to ensure an objective and thorough examination of the claims. The decision to enlist outside legal counsel reflects standard administrative protocols designed to evaluate personnel complaints involving top executive leadership while mitigating potential conflicts of interest within the city’s internal legal department.
In response to public inquiries regarding the ongoing inquiry, the mayor’s spokesperson, Matt Wagenius, released a formal statement acknowledging the situation while maintaining that the administration will refrain from commenting directly on active personnel matters. The statement noted that Mayor Her maintains deep respect for all municipal employees and sincerely regrets any unintended impact her actions or communications may have had. Chief Henry, who was appointed to lead the St. Paul Police Department in 2022, has maintained professional duties while the external legal team conducts its fact-finding process. Legal representatives for the police chief have not issued additional public commentary regarding the specific timeline or potential remedies sought through the municipal grievance procedure.
As the independent legal investigation proceeds, civic leaders and community observers in Minnesota are closely monitoring the political and operational implications for St. Paul’s municipal governance. Municipal governance experts emphasize that clear procedural boundaries and transparent investigations are essential for upholding workplace standards and preserving public trust in local institutions. Local governance advocates note that the outcome of the external review will be critical in determining administrative accountability and defining future workplace oversight protocols across municipal departments. The city attorney’s office has not publicly announced a deadline for when the independent law firm is expected to conclude its review or present its final investigative findings to municipal leadership. Moving forward, municipal stakeholders maintain that adhering to established administrative standards is crucial as the city reportedly investigating St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her after police chief files sexual harassment complaint works to complete its formal review.
