Sinema Admits Affair with Former Bodyguard as Ex-Wife Seeks More Than $75,000 in Damages

Former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has acknowledged having a romantic and intimate affair with her former bodyguard Matthew Ammel while he was still married.

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The admission came in a motion to dismiss a 'homewrecker' lawsuit filed by Ammel's estranged wife, Heather Ammel.

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Heather Ammel is seeking substantial damages for what she alleges was 'intentional and malicious interference' in her marriage.

Sinema served in the Senate from 2019 to 2025 and neither denied the affair in her legal filings.

Instead, Sinema argued that communications between her and Ammel occurred 'exclusively outside' the boundaries of North Carolina.

Heather Ammel is pursuing damages under North Carolina's 'alienation of affection' statute.

The lawsuit claims Sinema's actions destroyed her marriage through 'wrongful and malicious acts' and caused her 'severe emotional pain.'

The affair between Sinema and Ammel began in May 2024 in Sonoma, California, where they were physically intimate for the first time while Ammel was on a security detail for her.

Their relationship continued with multiple intimate encounters across various U.S. cities through early October 2024.

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The communications included extensive phone calls, emails, and encrypted Signal messages.

The communications reportedly 'exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship and were of romantic and lascivious natures.'

Specific texts revealed intimate expressions such as Sinema telling Ammel, 'I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me.'

The relationship developed while Ammel was working as Sinema's bodyguard, starting in April 2022.

Ammel became a Senate employee in June 2024 and received payments from Sinema's campaign account from mid-2024 to late 2025.

Sinema is mounting a legal defense arguing that North Carolina courts have no jurisdiction over the case.

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Her motion contends that her relationship with Ammel occurred 'exclusively outside' the Tar Heel state.

The motion argues that Ammel was traveling outside of North Carolina for at least three different jobs all but a few days each month.

Sinema's lawyers claim documented communications 'none of which occurred while he was in North Carolina.'

The lawsuit counters that while Ammel was traveling frequently, he maintained residency in North Carolina with his wife until their separation.

The legal battle centers on North Carolina's unique 'alienation of affection' statute.

This statute allows third parties to be sued when they interfere with a marriage and cause the destruction of 'love and affection' between spouses.

Heather Ammel claims the statute applies because Sinema engaged in 'willful and wanton conduct' that directly contributed to the demise of her marriage.

The lawsuit contains specific allegations of inappropriate behavior beyond the romantic relationship.

These include claims that Sinema suggested Matthew Ammel take MDMA on a work trip.

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The purpose was supposedly so she could 'guide him through a psychedelic experience' to help with his PTSD as an Army veteran.

Heather Ammel's complaint details other instances where Sinema's behavior 'exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship.'

This includes an incident at the Innings Festival where Sinema reportedly became 'handsy with him'.

Another trip to San Francisco where the two 'stayed together for hours' is also mentioned.

The lawsuit references a U2 concert trip to Las Vegas in December 2023 where Sinema arranged for Ammel to serve as her 'security'.

Sinema has responded stating she has 'no recollection' of suggesting the MDMA use.

She also disputes some of the other specific incidents described in the complaint.

The affair occurred during Sinema's politically tumultuous tenure in the Senate.

“In a sworn declaration, the former senator said the relationship between her and Matthew Ammel “became romantic and intimate” in 2024 Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Former Sen”

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She frequently clashed with her Democratic party before becoming an independent in 2022.

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While a House resolution passed in 2018 banned members of Congress from having sexual relationships with their employees, the Senate did not pass that resolution.

This left senators without those specific restrictions, though the relationship raises ethical questions.

The ethical concerns are heightened given Ammel's dual role as both a Senate employee and Sinema's personal bodyguard.

Matthew Ammel's own filing does not address allegations of an affair.

His filing states that his relationship with his wife ended in October 2024.

This was about five months after the relationship with Sinema became intimate.

The lawsuit claims Heather Ammel discovered inappropriate messages in 2024 and confronted him.

At that point, Sinema had already offered Matthew Ammel a salaried position on her Senate staff.