ST. PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a 73-page lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging she subjected him to repeated sexual harassment, made inappropriate comments and physical advances, and later retaliated against him after he complained about her conduct.
According to the lawsuit, Henry claims Her made numerous sexually charged remarks over several years, including describing herself as a “MILF,” commenting on his body, and making suggestive references to his genitalia. The complaint also alleges that during a budget meeting, Her placed her hand on Henry’s upper thigh underneath a conference table.
The lawsuit further claims Her discussed personal problems in her marriage and told Henry they “needed to be friends” and maintain a “close relationship” for their professional partnership to succeed.
Henry alleges the mayor frequently appeared at the police department gym when he was present, referred to him and other employees as “beefy,” and engaged in behavior he described as sexually suggestive during workouts.
One incident outlined in the complaint occurred during an awards ceremony when Henry was wearing a Mobile Field Force ribbon bearing the abbreviation “MFF.” After asking what the letters stood for, Her allegedly responded, “Oh, I thought it said MILF so maybe I could get one.”
The lawsuit also details a December meeting at a cigar lounge involving Henry, Her, and St. Paul Port Authority President Todd Hurley. During that meeting, Her allegedly threatened to tell others Henry had inappropriately touched her if she did not get her way in a dispute involving the location of a downtown police station.
In another episode, the lawsuit claims Her unexpectedly appeared at a golf simulator venue where Henry and a colleague were spending personal vacation time. Upon arriving, she allegedly remarked that she had come because they had not invited her.
Henry contends that after he filed an internal complaint, Her and members of her administration launched a campaign to undermine his credibility and isolate him professionally. The lawsuit alleges city officials excluded him from key decisions, withheld records he requested, and released a limited public summary of an independent investigation that minimized the allegations.
Her’s office has denied wrongdoing. In a statement cited by local media, the mayor’s office said an independent investigation “did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee.” The statement added that Her would continue to follow the recommendations contained in the report and that the city would not comment further on pending litigation.
The lawsuit comes shortly after Her transferred her personal security detail and driver services from the St. Paul Police Department to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
