Two St. Paul City Council members called on the city to release the full findings of an outside investigation into Mayor Kaohly Her, saying a two-page summary publicized this month by the city’s Human Resources Department leaves significant questions unanswered about her conduct and leadership of City Hall.

Council Members Molly Coleman and Saura Jost called for greater transparency after St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sued Her and the city, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, among other claims. Many city leaders have remained silent in recent days following the lawsuit’s announcement.

The outside investigation did not substantiate allegations that Her sexually harassed or retaliated against a city employee, according to a summary released by the Mayor’s Office Sept. 18. But investigators concluded that Her engaged in “offensive and inappropriate behavior,” created an uncomfortable work environment for city employees and sent inappropriate text messages to at least two employees.

The full report by St. Cloudbased Resolute Law has not been made public.

“The City Council has only seen the Mayor’s administration’s two-page summary of that report, prepared by a department she oversees,” Coleman said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The allegations in Chief Henry’s complaint have yet to be adjudicated in legal proceedings.”

Coleman said the allegations in Henry’s lawsuit were “deeply troubling” but stressed that they remain allegations and that Her is entitled to a fair legal process.

Still, she argued the findings disclosed by the Her administration raise questions that extend beyond whether the mayor violated the law.

“Saint Paul city employees — no matter their title — should never question whether they will be treated with professionalism and respect by their supervisors and the city’s leadership,” Coleman said.

Coleman also pointed to the   timing of the conduct, saying it occurred while St. Paul was contending with the presence of federal forces last winter, “a moment when we desperately needed steady, focused leadership in City Hall.”

She called for the Resolute Law report to be released in full and pressed Her to explain how she can effectively oversee the St. Paul Police Department amid her dispute with its chief.

Jost struck a more measured tone in her own statement Friday, saying she would not weigh in on the allegations in Henry’s lawsuit while the case proceeds.

“I respect Mayor Her’s right to due process, and I will not comment on the allegations contained in the lawsuit,” Jost said. “I trust the courts to resolve this matter impartially.”

But Jost said the controversy itself has damaged residents’ confidence in city government.

“Regardless of the outcome of this case, the existence of a lawsuit, the questions it raises, and concerns about leadership and governance have shaken public confidence,” she said.

In a statement to the Star Tribune on Sunday, Jost said the fact that the investigation “involves two of the city’s highest-ranking leaders” made her push for the release of the full report.

“As elected officials, we are accountable to the public, and transparency is essential to maintaining trust,” Jost said.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reached out to Coleman on Sunday for additional comment and had not heard back as of publication.

Both council members have political ties to former Mayor Melvin Carter, whom Her defeated in last year’s mayoral election. Carter endorsed Jost when she ran for City Council in 2023 and backed Coleman in her 2025 special election campaign for the council.

The Her administration has said the investigation did not substantiate claims of sexual harassment or retaliation and that the mayor will follow its recommendations. The city has declined to comment further, citing the pending litigation.

According to a person with knowledge of the investigation, the full report is expected to be released soon.

Henry’s lawsuit alleges he was never provided the full investigative findings and accuses the city of releasing a summary that omitted important facts and contained false statements. State law gives the city attorney’s office 10 business days to release the report to Henry.

The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in compensatory damages and brings six counts, including alleged violations of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minnesota Whistleblower Act and Minnesota Human Rights Act. It also asks a court to order the city to release the full investigation and underlying data. sofia.barnett@startribune.com