The situation
St. Paul is currently dealing with some major main character energy gone wrong. Mayor Kaohly Her is facing a 73-page lawsuit filed by Police Chief Axel Henry, who claims he was subjected to persistent sexual harassment and professional retaliation. The allegations are… well, the vibes are definitely off. According to the suit, Her allegedly made explicit comments about Henry’s anatomy, touched him inappropriately under a conference table during a budget meeting, and once joked about a Mobile Field Force (MFF) ribbon standing for "MILF."
The allegations
The list of claims in the filing is long and frankly uncomfortable. Henry alleges that Her frequently showed up at the police department gym, calling staff “beefy” and simulating an orgasm while working out. He also claims that during a meeting at a cigar lounge, Her threatened to lie and say he grabbed her if she didn’t get her way on a specific policy issue. When Henry finally filed an internal complaint, he alleges the administration started a campaign to discredit him, blocking him from decision-making and trying to bury the findings of an investigation.
The response
The Mayor’s office isn't backing down, stating that an independent investigation found no evidence of sexual harassment or retaliation. They’ve basically said they are moving forward with city business and aren't commenting further on the litigation. Notably, Her recently shifted her security detail away from the St. Paul Police Department to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
Why it matters
Real talk: when the head of a city government and the top law enforcement officer are at war, the plot thickens for everyone living there. It’s a messy breakdown of professional boundaries that raises questions about workplace conduct in local government.
