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Second St. Paul police official alleges sexual harassment by mayor

Created at 31 Jul · 2:16 PM1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

A second senior police official in St. Paul has alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by the city's Democratic mayor, Kaohly Her. The claims include creating a sexualized work environment and vulgar comments, leading to the officer's resignation.

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Who's Involved

Kaohly Her
Mayor of St. Paul, facing allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct
Axel Henry
Police Chief of St. Paul, whose complaint initiated an inquiry
Chris Madel
Lawyer representing Police Chief Henry
Irene Kao
City Attorney of St. Paul

↳ Why This Matters

The allegations against Mayor Kaohly Her raise serious concerns about workplace conduct and leadership within the St. Paul Police Department, potentially impacting public trust and the functioning of city government.

Key facts

  • A second senior police official in St. Paul has alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by Mayor Kaohly Her.
  • The unnamed officer claimed Her created a sexualized work environment and made vulgar comments.
  • The officer resigned from her position due to the alleged encounters.
  • An inquiry into Her's behavior was launched earlier this year.
  • Mayor Her stated that her attempts at humor fell short and that the communication was mutual.

A second senior police official in St. Paul has alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by the city's Democratic mayor, Kaohly Her. This follows confirmation that an inquiry into her behavior was launched earlier this year.

The new claims, reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, detail allegations from an unnamed high-ranking female police officer who stated Her "created a sexualized work environment" and "commented on her breasts and made vulgar noises in the police gym." The officer reportedly resigned due to these and other episodes.

Mayor Her, the city's first female mayor elected last November, is also accused of making "orgasmic noises" while stretching in front of others at the gym and superimposing officers' faces onto images of shirtless UFC fighters. A letter from Police Chief Axel Henry's lawyer, Chris Madel, to City Attorney Irene Kao, dated April 1, alleged Her engaged in a prolonged campaign of harassment using mobile phones, including messages with sexually suggestive content.

Her, a former state congresswoman and Hmong refugee, told the Star Tribune that the police department welcomed her into their circle and is now manipulating that trust. She stated, "The way this is being portrayed in the media does not reflect what I understood to be mutual communication." She added, "I am disappointed that I was invited and brought into their space and culture and now this is the outcome. As I stated yesterday, I respect the investigative process and believe it is important to allow it to reach its conclusion." Previously, Her acknowledged that "some of my attempts at humor fell short of the standard I expect of myself."

Frequently asked questions

Kaohly Her is the current Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. She is the city's first female mayor and a former state congresswoman.

Allegations include creating a sexualized work environment, making vulgar comments about an officer's breasts, making "orgasmic noises" in the gym, and sending sexually suggestive messages.

Mayor Her stated that her attempts at humor fell short, that the communication was mutual, and expressed disappointment that her entry into the police department's culture has led to this outcome. She respects the ongoing investigation.

An inquiry into Mayor Her's behavior is being conducted by an independent law firm.

What Happens Next

01The independent law firm's inquiry into the mayor's conduct is expected to reach its conclusion.

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Cadence

How It Developed

A second senior police official in St. Paul alleged sexual harassment by Mayor Kaohly Her.
The official claimed Her created a sexualized work environment and made vulgar comments.
The officer resigned due to the alleged conduct and other episodes.
An inquiry into Her's behavior was launched earlier this year.
Her stated that her attempts at humor fell short and that communication was mutual.

Sources

T1
Second police official in St Paul alleges sexual harassment by mayorThe Guardian

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