Former United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema has formally admitted to engaging in a romantic relationship with her married bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, in a recent court filing. The 49-year-old ex-politician, who represented Arizona from 2019 to 2025, is facing a lawsuit brought by Ammel's wife, Heather, under a unique North Carolina law that permits claims for alienation of affection.
Legal Battle Over Alleged Affair
Heather Ammel, a mother of three, initiated legal proceedings against Sinema, accusing her of intentionally and maliciously interfering in her 14-year marriage. The lawsuit alleges that the affair began shortly after Matthew Ammel, a special forces veteran, was hired onto Sinema's security team in 2022. According to court documents, the former senator and her bodyguard frequently traveled together on both domestic and international work trips, with Sinema allegedly inviting Ammel to her hotel room during these excursions.
Sinema's Response and Defense
In a court filing submitted on Thursday, Sinema sought dismissal of the $25,000 case. She acknowledged that her "romantic and intimate" relationship with Ammel commenced in May 2024, while he was still married. However, Sinema argues that the case should be thrown out because the relationship occurred outside North Carolina, and they were never physically intimate within the state's borders, a key requirement under the alienation of affection statute.
Explosive Allegations in the Lawsuit
The initial complaint contains numerous detailed allegations about the nature of Sinema and Ammel's relationship. Heather Ammel claims that the bisexual senator asked her husband to bring the party drug MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, on work trips in 2023 so she could "guide him through a psychedelic experience." The lawsuit also references explicit text messages between the pair, including discussions about sexual positions and Sinema's alleged comment that missionary style with lights on was "Boring!"
Social Activities and International Travel
Beyond official duties, the duo attended multiple concerts together, including U2 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Green Day in Washington, DC, and Taylor Swift in Miami. Ammel also accompanied Sinema on a foreign trip to Saudi Arabia. The lawsuit further claims that Sinema asked Ammel to remove his wedding ring when they were out in public "so it wouldn't look like she was putting her hands on a married man."
Personal Messages and Marital Breakdown
Text messages presented in the lawsuit reveal intimate exchanges between Sinema and Ammel. In October 2024, shortly after Ammel returned home to North Carolina, Sinema texted: "I miss you. Putting my hand on your heart. I'll see you soon." Heather Ammel responded directly, asking: "Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family." The alleged affair culminated in the breakdown of the marriage in late 2024, with Heather and Matthew separating.
Professional Connections and Financial Arrangements
Matthew Ammel worked for Sinema between 2022 and 2025, initially through her campaign accounts and Getting Stuff Done leadership PAC, according to Federal Election Commission data. Legistorm, a congressional salary database, lists Ammel as a Defense and National Security Fellow in Sinema's Senate office, earning more than $90,000 for six months of work between June 2024 and January 2025. His compensation appears to have increased significantly after Sinema left office.
Background on Ammel and Sinema's Advocacy
Ammel suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, having used psychedelic drugs to help combat these effects. Sinema has been an active advocate for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, including MDMA and Ibogaine, for treating PTSD, both during her Senate tenure and in her subsequent lobbying work. In an interview with the Phoenix New Times last year, Sinema cited Ammel as an inspiration, stating that after he underwent Ibogaine treatment in Mexico, she "saw the difference it was making in his life, his thinking and his behavior."
Impact on Heather Ammel
The complaint asserts that Heather Ammel was left emotionally devastated and financially strained as a result of Sinema's actions, forcing her to pursue divorce proceedings. The lawsuit seeks damages for the alleged intentional and malicious interference in the marriage, highlighting the personal and professional complexities of the relationship between the former senator and her bodyguard.
