Police Chief Files Sexual Harassment Complaint Against St. Paul’s First Female Mayor
The police chief of St. Paul, Minnesota, has lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Mayor Kaoli Ha, alleging inappropriate behavior directed towards both the city’s chief and other officers. This revelation emerged from a report by the local NBC affiliate on Wednesday.
Investigation Launched into Mayor’s Conduct
Following the allegations, the city has engaged an external law firm to conduct a thorough investigation into the claims against Mayor Ha, who has held office for just seven months.
Details of the Complaint Revealed
Chief Axel Henry, who assumed leadership of the St. Paul Police Department in 2022, outlined the allegations in a letter dated April 1, addressed to the St. Paul City Attorney by his attorney, Christopher Madel.
Concerns About Inappropriate Behavior
In the letter, which was obtained by NBC affiliate KARE, Madel stated, “The city has informed us that Mayor Ha has engaged in illegal conduct toward city employees.” This statement suggests that the complaint arose after Chief Henry became aware that the mayor’s actions allegedly extended beyond isolated incidents to include sexual harassment of city subordinates, including police department members.
Allegations of Inappropriate Messaging
The letter included a controversial text message sent by Mayor Ha to an anonymous city employee, which read, “Happy Wiener Wednesday! I wish I could have eaten (hot dog emoji) with you all today at 6 o’clock!” Accompanying the message was an internet meme featuring a baby with an adult’s head, annotated with a humorous caption relating to the mayor’s messaging.
Legal Implications and Future Actions
Madel indicated that future litigation seems “reasonably foreseeable” and urged the city to take immediate steps to facilitate a complete extraction of data from Mayor Ha’s cell phones. While the letter referenced multiple inappropriate communications, specific details surrounding these allegations have not been disclosed.
Mayor’s Response and Previous Allegations
In a written statement, Mayor Ha affirmed her cooperation with the investigation and expressed confidence that “the full facts will be revealed.” She acknowledged the necessity of treating all employees with professionalism and respect, admitting that some attempts at humor were inappropriate. Notably, Ha has faced accusations of improper conduct in the past, including a restraining order filed against her by a former acquaintance, although the court later denied this petition, citing a lack of evidence to support the claims.
