St. Paul mayor harassment probe: full report released as attorney predicts high six-figure taxpayer payout
The full 76-page independent investigation into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her's conduct was released Oct. 2 and found she "acted inappropriately" and shared inappropriate photographs, as an attorney predicted a high six-figure taxpayer payout.[1]
Police Chief Axel Henry filed a civil lawsuit Sept. 23 alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, saying Her called herself a "MILF," made sexual innuendo, simulated an orgasm and touched his thigh.[2]
An internal HR investigation completed Sept. 14 produced a two-page summary from HR Director Kamaria Kassim saying Her created and shared offensive material and engaged in offensive behavior.[3] The summary said the probe found an uncomfortable work environment but did not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation.[3]
Early public reporting relied on the two-page summary and largely described the probe as not substantiating harassment. The full 76-page report released Oct. 2, however, explicitly finds Her "acted inappropriately" and shared inappropriate photographs.[1]
St. Paul City Council met behind closed doors on Sept. 30, demanded the full report be released publicly and is weighing hiring outside counsel that could bill up to $500 per hour.[4] Employment attorney Marshall Tanick said avoiding the term "sexual harassment" appears aimed at limiting legal exposure and called "acted inappropriately" a euphemism.[1] He predicted a high six-figure settlement to be paid by St. Paul taxpayers and warned other city employees could file lawsuits.[1]
Show source details & analysis (5 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Police Chief Axel Henry filed a civil lawsuit in Ramsey County Court against Mayor Kaohly Her alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on Sept. 23, 2026 (Police Chief Axel Henry).
- The complaint includes graphic allegations that Mayor Kaohly Her called herself a “MILF,” made sexual innuendos about Henry’s penis, said her marriage was in trouble and they “needed to be friends,” allegedly simulated an orgasm in the police gym, and made unwanted physical contact including placing her hand on Henry’s upper thigh under a conference table (Mayor Kaohly Her).
- Henry’s lawsuit accuses the mayor and her staff of launching a retaliation and PR campaign, says the city released only a “sanitized” two-page summary while withholding the full report, labels the internal probe a “whitewash,” and argues the city’s refusal to provide the full report violates state law (the lawsuit).
- The city’s HR investigation, completed Sept. 14, found Mayor Her created and shared offensive material, engaged in offensive behavior and created an uncomfortable work environment, but concluded it could not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation; HR Director Kamaria Kassim issued the two-page letter summarizing those findings (HR Director Kamaria Kassim).
- The independent investigation’s full 76-page report, released Oct. 2, 2026, explicitly found Mayor Kaohly Her “acted inappropriately” with employees and “shared inappropriate photographs” but stopped short of labeling the conduct “sexual harassment” (76-page report).
- The St. Paul City Council held a closed-door meeting on Sept. 30, 2026, is formally calling for the full independent-investigation report to be released to the public, and is considering hiring outside counsel after the city attorney flagged a potential conflict — outside firms could bill up to $500 per hour (St. Paul City Council).
- Employment attorney Marshall Tanick said the choice to avoid the term “sexual harassment” appears intentional, called the phrasing “acted inappropriately” a euphemism, predicted a “high six‑figure” taxpayer-funded settlement in Henry’s case, and warned additional lawsuits by other employees could follow (Marshall Tanick).
- The mayor’s office responded by pointing to the independent investigation’s finding that harassment and retaliation were not substantiated and declined further comment citing active litigation (the mayor’s office).
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
October 03, 2026
2:12 AM
Employment attorney reacts to St. Paul mayor scandal: ‘Big mess with a capital M’
New information:
- The independent investigation’s full 76-page report has now been released and explicitly finds Mayor Kaohly Her 'acted inappropriately' with employees and 'shared inappropriate photographs' but stops short of labeling it 'sexual harassment.'
- Veteran employment attorney Marshall Tanick says the choice to avoid the term 'sexual harassment' is likely intentional to reduce the city’s legal exposure, calling 'acted inappropriately' a euphemism.
- Tanick characterizes Chief Axel Henry’s case as still 'a fairly easy' win — a 'layup' rather than a 'slam dunk' — and predicts a 'high six‑figure' settlement that would be paid by St. Paul taxpayers.
- Tanick warns Henry’s suit is likely not a 'one‑off' and suggests additional lawsuits by other city employees could follow, given the report indicates broader misconduct.
September 30, 2026
1:01 PM
St. Paul City Council to discuss sexual harassment lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her
New information:
- St. Paul City Council is holding a closed-door meeting Wednesday specifically to discuss Police Chief Axel Henry’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Mayor Kaohly Her.
- The council is now formally calling for the full independent-investigation report on the mayor’s conduct to be released to the public, not just the two-page summary.
- The city attorney has flagged a potential conflict in defending the mayor, leading council members to consider hiring an outside law firm that could bill up to $500 per hour from the city’s operating budget.
- In a public statement, the council said the mayor and her administration must show they can continue to lead the city and manage functional relationships with all departments, including St. Paul Police, during the litigation.
September 25, 2026
2:50 AM
St. Paul police chief seeks full report on harassment investigation, calls summary a 'whitewash'
New information:
- Confirms that the city’s HR investigation found Mayor Her created and shared offensive material, engaged in offensive behavior, and created an uncomfortable work environment, but said it could not substantiate sexual harassment or retaliation claims.
- Identifies HR Director Kamaria Kassim as the official who issued a two-page letter summarizing the investigation’s findings.
- Details that Henry’s lawsuit explicitly labels the city’s investigation a “whitewash” and alleges the city gave Mayor Her a detailed accounting of findings while withholding the full report from him.
- Henry’s suit specifically argues the city’s refusal to provide the full report violates state law, not just internal policy.
- Specifies that Henry disputes the finding that sexual noises at the police gym were “not substantiated,” asserting at least five witnesses heard it and will testify.
- Includes a pointed statement from Henry’s attorney Chris Madel criticizing the city’s “sanitized summary written by the city about itself” and calling for all evidence to be heard in court.
- Clarifies that the investigation was completed Sept. 14 and that the full report has not been released, even after the lawsuit filing.
September 23, 2026
8:11 PM
St. Paul police chief sues Mayor Her over sexual harassment claims
New information:
- Police Chief Axel Henry has now filed a civil lawsuit in Ramsey County Court against Mayor Kaohly Her alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
- The complaint lays out specific, graphic allegations: the mayor calling herself a "MILF," making sexual innuendos about Henry’s penis, saying her marriage was in trouble and that they ‘needed to be friends,’ and allegedly simulating an orgasm while working out in the police gym.
- Henry alleges unwanted physical contact, including the mayor placing her hand on his upper thigh under a conference table during a budget meeting.
- The lawsuit accuses Her and her staff of launching a retaliation and PR campaign against Henry and of releasing only a ‘sanitized’ version of the internal investigative report that largely cleared the mayor.
- The mayor’s office responded by pointing to an ‘independent investigation’ that did not substantiate harassment or retaliation claims and declined further comment citing active litigation.