Full Breakdown
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Faces Independent Investigation Over Sexual Harassment Complaint
7/31/2026, 2:09:08 AM
Core Event: Police Chief Files Formal Complaint
Police Chief Axel Henry submitted a formal sexual-harassment complaint against Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging that she sent “inappropriate, and, indeed, unlawful” text messages to city employees, including members of the police department. The letter says the mayor’s conduct “has extended beyond isolated incidents” and threatens retaliation against employees who speak out.
Background & Context
Kaohly Her, a Democrat and former Minnesota state representative, became the first woman and first Hmong American mayor of St. Paul when she was sworn in on January 2, 2026 after defeating incumbent Melvin Carter. Her refugee background—arriving from Laos at age three—has shaped her public profile, including vocal opposition to federal immigration raids. Earlier in 2025 she faced a dismissed restraining-order petition alleging intrusive questioning, but a court referee found no evidence of threat.
Timeline
- January 2, 2026 – Her takes office.
- March 21, 2026 – The alleged “Weiner Wednesday” message is sent.
- March 30, 2026 – Attorney Chris Madel notes a conversation with Chief Henry and City Attorney Kao preceding the formal complaint.
- April 1, 2026 – Madel’s letter to Kao formally notifies the city of the complaint.
- July 28, 2026 – The independent investigation remains active.
- July 29, 2026 – Outlets publish details of the complaint and the mayor’s response.
Data & Statistics
- Her has been in office for seven months at the time of reporting.
- The investigation was launched in April 2026 and remains ongoing as of July 28, 2026.
Criticism & Opposition
She highlighted Minnesota’s Government Data Practices Act, noting that “they’ve got a stack of exemptions that they can resort to to try to deny public access” and that “I would anticipate that there would be substantial redactions if and when this investigation concludes, regardless of its outcome.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The exact content of the alleged messages varies: some sources cite a single “Happy Weiner Wednesday” text, others mention an additional meme image.
- Whether the messages were sent from a personal device or a government-issued phone has not been disclosed, creating uncertainty about public-record statutes.
- Prior allegations of unwanted physical contact with Chief Henry are mentioned by some outlets but lack corroborating detail.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Chief Henry just helped crack a triple homicide in under four hours — that's the work he's focused on right now: keeping citizens safe. No comment beyond that,” — Chris Madel, attorney
- “I think what we’ve got here is a crisis, and that crisis is whether the city of St. Paul is going to be open and transparent about the nature of this investigation.” — Jane Kirtley
- “We will honor all applicable laws when making the determination on the report,” — Matt Wagenius, mayor’s spokesperson
What’s Next
The city’s independent investigation, conducted by Resolute Law, will continue to review the mayor’s communications and related workplace complaints. No public timetable has been announced for the release of findings, and the city says any disclosure will comply with privacy and records-access laws.
