A Ramsey County court referee on Tuesday denied a harassment restraining order petition filed against St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her following a hearing.
According to the petition obtained by Alpha News, Shirly Yang alleged a months-long pattern of harassment, intimidation and misuse of influence that escalated after she attempted to set personal boundaries with the former state representative, now St. Paul’s mayor.
Yang alleged Her engaged in persistent and unwanted communications, disclosed private personal information, made threats tied to employment and legal matters, and interfered in her professional life. Yang had sought a court order barring Her from contacting her or her children and restricting further interaction.
The filing states the two women were acquaintances who interacted socially and professionally. Yang alleged the relationship deteriorated in the spring of 2025 after Her set Yang up on a date with Rep. Ethan Cha, DFL-Woodbury.
According to the petition, Her later began sending frequent messages that Yang described as intrusive and inappropriate, including sexually explicit comments and personal questions about her relationship with Cha.
When Yang attempted to distance herself, the conduct intensified, according to the filing.
Yang alleged Her implied that pursuing legal action would “cost” Yang her “livelihood,” referenced her ongoing custody case, and suggested she could be “committed” or have her children removed.
“Kaohly monitored aspects of my life in ways I neither invited nor welcomed, leaving me feeling unsafe and constantly watched,” Yang wrote.
In court, Cha testified that he told Her to stop contacting Yang “on multiple occasions,” and that he believed Her was “escalating and not de-escalating the situation.”
Yang also claimed that Her used her political influence to interfere with her professional life, including by allegedly contacting the National Kidney Foundation of Minnesota, where Yang served on a board. According to the filing, Yang was later removed from the board and believes Her played a role in that decision.
“I never expected a [then]-State Representative to follow through on her threat and use her political influence to target my professional standing, but Kaohly did,” Yang said in the petition.
The filing also alleged Her continued monitoring Yang’s personal life through mutual contacts and social media. Yang said the conduct caused emotional distress and fear for her safety and that of her children.
Court referee Elizabeth Clysdale denied Yang’s request for a harassment restraining order against Her, concluding the evidence did not meet the legal threshold required to grant the order and did not establish a sustained pattern of harassment.
Following the court’s ruling, Yang told Alpha News she was disappointed by the decision but stood by the allegations outlined in her filing.
“St. Paul deserves a mayor who leads with integrity, not intimidation,” Yang said.
Alpha News reached out to Mayor Her’s office for comment but did not receive a response.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
