Lead

Kaohly Her, the first female mayor of St Paul, Minnesota, is facing an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, with a second senior police official now coming forward with claims of inappropriate conduct. The new allegations were reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, which said it obtained further details of the mayor's alleged actions that gave rise to the original complaint by Police Chief Axel Henry.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian reported that Her is under investigation following a complaint filed by Police Chief Axel Henry, who alleged that Her sent inappropriate messages to employees, including members of the police department. An outside law firm is conducting the independent inquiry, according to The Guardian's reporting, which cited records obtained by the New York Times and NBC News.

The Guardian also covered the emergence of a second allegation, sourced to the Minnesota Star Tribune. That report described claims from an unnamed high-ranking female police officer who said Her created a sexualized work environment, commented on her breasts, and made vulgar noises in the police gym. The officer reportedly resigned due to these encounters.

Key Claims

  • Kaohly Her is under investigation for sexual harassment following a complaint filed by St Paul's police chief, Axel Henry, as reported by The Guardian.
  • The complaint alleged that Her sent inappropriate messages to employees, including members of the police department.
  • An outside law firm is conducting an independent inquiry into the allegations.
  • Her was elected as the first female mayor of St Paul in November and previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for six years, according to The Guardian.
  • A second senior police official has alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by Her, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune and cited by The Guardian.
  • The official claimed Her created a sexualized work environment and commented on her breasts, and that Her made orgasmic noises while stretching in front of others at the gym.
  • Her is also alleged to have superimposed the faces of senior St Paul police officers onto images of shirtless UFC fighters.
These claims come from a 1 April letter to the city attorney, Irene Kao, written by Chris Madel, a lawyer representing Police Chief Henry. The letter alleged that Her engaged in a prolonged campaign of harassment against a number of workers "using one or more mobile phones." It also contained a screenshot of a message allegedly sent by Her to an employee, wishing them a "Happy Weiner Wednesday," along with laughing emojis and a caption referencing sexual intercourse.

An investigation by Cally Kjellberg-Nelson, an employment law expert at the law firm Resolute Law, was already under way, according to records obtained by the New York Times and cited by The Guardian. Kjellberg-Nelson did not respond to an email seeking further information.

Perspectives

Mayor Kaohly Her's Response

In a written statement to NBC News, Her said she had cooperated with the investigation and believed the "full facts will come to light." She added: "As Mayor, I take my responsibility to treat every employee with professionalism and respect very seriously." She told the Star Tribune in a statement on Thursday that the police department... [the text was cut off in the source material].

Police Chief Axel Henry's Complaint

Police Chief Axel Henry, through his lawyer Chris Madel, filed a formal complaint against Her, stating that he decided to "step forward as a formal complainant after becoming aware that the mayor's conduct has extended beyond isolated incidents and has included sexual harassment of subordinate city employees, including members of the Saint Paul Police Department."

Unnamed Senior Female Police Officer

An unnamed high-ranking female police officer, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, claimed Her created a sexualized work environment and resigned her position due to the encounters.

Conclusion

The investigation into Mayor Her's conduct is ongoing, with the independent law firm conducting the inquiry. The emergence of a second allegation adds to the seriousness of the situation, though no formal findings have been released. Her has maintained that she cooperated with the investigation and that the full facts will eventually come to light.