St. Paul Police Chief Henry Sues Mayor Her

By Tony Fredericks Denver, CO · POLITICS DESK

Published Updated 5 min read

Chief Axel Henry filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her on September 24, 2026.

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry filed a lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her and the City of St. Paul in Ramsey County District Court on September 24, 2026. The complaint alleges that Mayor Her sexually harassed Chief Henry and engaged in retaliatory acts after he reported the alleged misconduct.

The lawsuit details multiple instances of alleged inappropriate conduct by the mayor toward the police chief. During a St. Paul Police Department budget meeting, the complaint alleges that Mayor Her placed her hand on Chief Henry's upper thigh beneath a conference table twice without consent. The filing further states that Mayor Her made sexual innuendos regarding the size of Chief Henry's penis and described herself to him using a term associated with an attractive older mother.

The lawsuit references interactions involving departmental insignia. At a Police Academy graduation on February 19, 2026, Mayor Her allegedly asked Chief Henry why Deputy Chief Tim Flynn's ribbon bar was bigger and made a facial expression suggesting a sexual innuendo. The Mobile Field Force is a specialized tactical unit within the department’s Support Services & Administration division responsible for managing large public gatherings. The complaint alleges that Mayor Her asked Chief Henry what his Mobile Field Force ribbon stood for, and when he explained, she remarked that she thought it said MILF so maybe she could get one.

Chief Henry has led the St. Paul Police Department since 2022 and has over 28 years of experience with the agency, as well as 31 years in law enforcement overall. The department consists of 575 sworn officers and 200 non-sworn officials. Mayor Her took office in January 2026. She is 53 years old and was born in Laos, arriving in the United States at age 3 according to her campaign biography.

Chief Henry is seeking a jury trial to determine damages for lost wages, benefits, emotional distress, humiliation, and harm to reputation. The lawsuit alleges that St. Paul city officials violated the Minnesota Whistleblower Act by engaging in retaliatory acts against him. It further alleges that Mayor Her hired a private public relations firm to discredit Chief Henry after the investigation into her conduct began.

An independent investigation conducted by the St. Paul Human Resources Department found that Mayor Her engaged in offensive and inappropriate behavior with city employees but did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee. Mayor Her has issued two public apologies regarding her conduct following the allegations. When approached by reporters at an Aldi store, Mayor Her stated she could not comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation.

Mayor Her's spokesperson Matt Wagenius addressed the findings. "An independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee," Wagenius said. Henry's attorney Chris Madel defended his client's actions.

"Axel Henry is an honorable man and a dedicated public servant. He didn’t come forward for attention or advantage — he came forward because what happened was wrong and needed to be reported," Madel said.

Why It Matters

This lawsuit brings formal legal allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against a sitting mayor by the city's top law enforcement official. The case involves claims that span several months, from late 2025 through 2026, and include both interpersonal interactions and administrative actions such as the transfer of security duties. The outcome will depend on judicial review of the evidence presented in Ramsey County District Court.

The independent investigation by the St. Paul Human Resources Department concluded that while Mayor Her engaged in offensive and inappropriate behavior, it did not substantiate the specific claims of harassment or retaliation. This discrepancy between the internal administrative findings and the civil lawsuit shows the different standards and processes involved in workplace investigations versus legal proceedings. The case proceeds as Chief Henry seeks damages for alleged harms to his reputation and career.

Timeline

On August 31, 1987, a formal complaint was filed by the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards against the Honorable Alberto O. Miera, Judge of District Court, Ramsey County, alleging violations of the Canons of Judicial Conduct and the Rules of the Board on Judicial Standards. Chief Axel Henry has led the St. Paul Police Department since 2022. The lawsuit alleges that beginning in November 2025, Mayor Her visited the police department gym daily when Chief Henry was present and made loud grunting and moaning noises. The lawsuit alleges that during a December meeting at a cigar lounge with Todd Hurley, President of the St. Paul Port Authority, Mayor Her stated she would claim Hurley grabbed her ass if she did not get her way regarding moving the police station downtown.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that Mayor Her's office requested the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to take over her security from the St. Paul Police Department on September 10, 2026, citing 'the ongoing threat and increased incidents of political violence towards elected officials.' Additional details note that Mayor Her requested the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office take over her security from the St. Paul Police Department on September 10, 2026, citing ongoing threats and increased incidents of political violence towards elected officials. The lawsuit filed by Chief Henry notes that Mayor Her took office in January 2026.

Further allegations detailed in the complaint state that during a Police Academy graduation on February 19, 2026, Mayor Her asked Chief Henry why Deputy Chief Flynn's ribbon bar was bigger, making a facial expression that suggested a sexual innuendo about his penis. The lawsuit alleges that at a Police Academy graduation on February 19, 2026, Mayor Her asked Chief Henry why Deputy Chief Flynn's ribbon bar was bigger and made a facial expression suggesting a sexual innuendo. Background information confirms that Chief Axel Henry has served as the St. Paul Police Chief since 2022, and he has over 28 years of experience with the St. Paul Police Department, as well as 31 years in law enforcement overall. Henry's attorney Chris Madel stated, "Axel Henry is an honorable man and a dedicated public servant. He didn’t come forward for attention or advantage — he came forward because what happened was wrong and needed to be reported."

fact_check Facts

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry filed a lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her and the City of St. Paul in Ramsey County District Court.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Kaohly Her sexually harassed Chief Henry and engaged in retaliatory acts after he reported the alleged misconduct.
The lawsuit alleges that during a St. Paul Police Department budget meeting, Mayor Her placed her hand on Chief Henry's upper thigh beneath a conference table twice without consent.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her made sexual innuendos regarding the size of Chief Henry's penis.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her described herself to Chief Henry as a "MILF."
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her confided in Chief Henry that her marriage was in trouble and stated they needed to be friends or "this is not going to work."
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her sent a meme containing the phrase "good weinering" to city staff.
Matt Wagenius, spokesperson
Mayor Her's spokesperson Matt Wagenius stated that an independent investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee.
An independent investigation concluded that Mayor Her engaged in offensive and inappropriate behavior with employees.
Mayor Her has issued two apologies regarding her conduct.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her hired a private public relations firm to discredit Chief Henry after the investigation began.
The lawsuit alleges that St. Paul city officials violated the Minnesota Whistleblower Act by engaging in retaliatory acts against Chief Henry.
The lawsuit alleges that during a December meeting at a cigar lounge with Todd Hurley, President of the St. Paul Port Authority, Mayor Her stated she would claim Hurley grabbed her ass if she did not get her way regarding moving the police station downtown.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her made grunting and moaning noises resembling orgasms while working out at the police headquarters gym.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her doctored photographs of Chief Henry and other officers and displayed them in gold frames in the chief's office.
Mayor Her's office requested the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office take over her security from the St. Paul Police Department on September 10, 2026.
Mayor Her's office cited ongoing threats and increased incidents of political violence towards elected officials as the reason for the security change.
Kaohly Her, Mayor of St. Paul
When approached by reporters at an Aldi store, Mayor Her stated she could not comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation.
The lawsuit alleges that at a Police Academy graduation on February 19, 2026, Mayor Her asked Chief Henry why Deputy Chief Tim Flynn's ribbon bar was bigger and made a facial expression suggesting a sexual innuendo.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her asked Chief Henry what his Mobile Field Force ribbon stood for, and when he explained, she remarked, "Oh, I thought it said MILF so maybe I could get one."
The lawsuit alleges that beginning in November 2025, Mayor Her visited the police department gym daily when Chief Henry was present and made loud grunting and moaning noises.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her photoshopped the faces of Chief Henry and other officers onto images of bodybuilders with prominent bulges in their crotch areas.
The lawsuit alleges that Mayor Her followed Chief Henry to an X Golf location on February 6, 2026, while he was on vacation with a sergeant.
Chris Madel, attorney
Henry's attorney Chris Madel stated, "Axel Henry is an honorable man and a dedicated public servant. He didn’t come forward for attention or advantage — he came forward because what happened was wrong and needed to be reported."

menu_bookBackground & Context

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report.

Mayor Her took office in January 2026.
Chief Axel Henry has led the St. Paul Police Department since 2022.
Mayor Kaohly Her is 53 years old.
Mayor Kaohly Her was born in Laos and arrived in the U.S. at age 3.
Mayor Her's office requested the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to take over her security from the St. Paul Police Department on September 10, 2026, citing 'the ongoing threat and increased incidents of political violence towards elected officials.'
Mayor Her requested the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office take over her security from the St. Paul Police Department on September 10, 2026, citing ongoing threats and increased incidents of political violence towards elected officials.
Mayor Her took office in January 2026, as noted in the lawsuit filed by Chief Henry.
During a Police Academy graduation on February 19, 2026, Mayor Her asked Chief Henry why Deputy Chief Tim Flynn's ribbon bar was bigger, making a facial expression that suggested a sexual innuendo about his penis.
Chief Axel Henry has served as the St. Paul Police Chief since 2022, and he has over 28 years of experience with the St. Paul Police Department, as well as 31 years in law enforcement overall.
Mayor Her issued two public apologies regarding her conduct following the allegations made by Chief Henry.
Mayor Her hired a private public relations firm to discredit Chief Henry after the investigation into her conduct began.
The St. Paul Police Department's Mobile Field Force (MFF) is a specialized tactical unit within the department’s Support Services & Administration division, responsible for managing large public gatherings, demonstrations, and protests.
Mayor Kaohly Her was born in Laos and arrived in the United States at age 3, according to her campaign biography.
Mayor Her took office as St. Paul's mayor in January 2026.
An independent investigation conducted by the St. Paul Human Resources Department found that Mayor Her engaged in 'offensive and inappropriate behavior' with city employees but did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee.
The independent investigation into Mayor Her's conduct concluded that she engaged in 'offensive and inappropriate behavior' with employees but could not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation against any city employee.

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