St. Paul Mayor Sued by Police Chief Over Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Claims

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging a pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit details accusations of inappropriate comments regarding the chief's anatomy, unwanted physical contact, and a campaign to discredit Henry after he reported the alleged misconduct.

According to the 73-page lawsuit filed Wednesday, Henry claims that Mayor Her made sexually suggestive remarks, including comparing his penis size to that of another official and asking if his uniform ribbon stood for "MILF." Henry also alleges that Her made orgasm-like noises at the police department gym and referred to officers as "beefy."

Henry's suit further details accusations of physical contact, including Her allegedly touching his upper thigh twice during a budget meeting and extending her fingers toward his groin. The lawsuit also claims Her tracked Henry's calendar and appeared at a private outing where he was spending vacation time.

In addition to the alleged harassment, Henry accuses Her and her administration of retaliating against him. This includes photoshopping faces of officers, including Henry's, onto images of bodybuilders with prominent bulges and displaying these altered images in public areas of the police department. The lawsuit states that Henry reported the alleged misconduct despite knowing it could jeopardize his career, and that retaliation began instead of accountability.

A separate misconduct probe by the city had previously concluded that Mayor Her engaged in "offensive and inappropriate behavior," but did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation. The findings of this probe were released less than a week before Henry filed his lawsuit.

Henry is seeking a jury trial for damages, including lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, humiliation, and harm to his reputation. He also requests that the city release the full report of its investigation into the mayor's conduct.

Mayor Her's office has stated that the city does not comment on pending litigation. A spokesperson for the mayor reiterated that an independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation and that the mayor will continue to lead the city and follow the report's recommendations.