Full Report Details Lewd Behavior Allegations Against St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her

ST. PAUL, MN — Talk about her breasts in front of police employees. Officers photoshopped into UFC fighters wearing nothing but shorts. A "Weiner Wednesday" meme. A hand on the police chief's thigh.

Those are among the details in the full investigative report into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, released by the city Thursday and uploaded by the Pioneer Press.

Subscribe

The report, written by the law firm Resolute Law, found Her's behavior toward city employees offensive and inappropriate but not sexual harassment.

The investigation began with a complaint from Police Chief Axel Henry, who has since sued Her and the city. Her has not been charged with a crime. All names except Her's were redacted before the city released the report.

Breast Comments

Investigators substantiated two incidents involving female police employees.

On Jan. 14, Her "repeatedly discussed her breasts, touched her breasts, and made the female employee uncomfortable," according to the report. Her said she didn't recall it, but investigators said a text the employee sent a friend that same day backed up her account.

In February, another employee said Her stood near her while she was in only her bra, repeatedly asked whether her breasts would look appropriate for an upcoming national interview and complimented the employee's breasts.

Her said they were talking about how women's bodies change with age. Investigators called it "a close call" but sided with the employee.

The Photoshops

Her pasted police leaders' faces onto pictures of bodybuilders and UFC fighters "wearing nothing but shorts and UFC belts partially covering their bare chests," the report says. She also taped her own headshot over pictures and plaques around police headquarters.

Her said she was matching the department's culture. Investigators didn't buy it.

"Had a male mayor photoshopped female police officers in such minimal amount of clothing, there would be no question about the inappropriateness of the behavior," the report states.

'Weiner Wednesday'

On March 25, Her texted two officers a meme referencing "Weiner Wednesday," the nickname for a weekly hot dog lunch at the department, with a caption about a "good weinering."

Investigators confirmed Her didn't write the caption, which came from an online content creator, but said she took the time to photoshop someone into the image. They called the meme "sexual in nature and inappropriate" and said Her "mistakenly believes" it was OK because it went to personal phones.

The Chief

Much of the report tracks Henry's lawsuit.

Henry told investigators Her twice put her hand on his thigh under the table at a March 18 budget meeting. Investigators didn't find the touch sexual but said it "was unwelcome and caused considerable discomfort."

At a Feb. 28 meeting at Sweeney's Saloon, Henry said, Her asked whether he'd always been "this beefy," offered to drive him home, then put her face in her hands and asked, "Why does this keep happening to us?"

Investigators said it was inappropriate for Her to demand that Henry say whether they would be "friends." But they called his claim that the meeting was a "date" not credible, citing texts in which Her said he could bring other people.

Henry also said that at a police graduation, Her asked what the "MFF" on his uniform stood for, then said, "Too bad it doesn't say MILF, then I could get one." Her said she didn't recall saying it. Investigators did not find any of the pair's conversations to be sexual in nature.

After he complained, Henry told city officials, "I was better off when I was being sexually harassed."

What Didn't Hold Up

Investigators rejected the claim that Her made sexual noises at the police gym, noting a fire department workout video showed she grunts during hard workouts.

"Had a man been grunting in the gym, it is unlikely he would be accused of making 'orgasmic' noises," the report says.

They also found no retaliation by either Her or Henry, and no other inappropriate texts among more than 55,000 messages on her phones.

Her told investigators she is "heartbroken that she hurt someone and wants to make it right." A spokesperson said she won't comment further until Henry's lawsuit is resolved, KSTP reported.