NEED TO KNOW
- Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is being sued by her former bodyguard’s ex-wife, who alleged he and the politician were having an affair
- The lawsuit is seeking $25,000 in damages under North Carolina’s Alienation of Affection law
- The law allows a spouse to sue a third-party for breaking up their marriage
Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is under fire after being accused of having an affair with her former bodyguard, according to a federal lawsuit filed in North Carolina by the man’s ex–wife.
The lawsuit, which was obtained by PEOPLE and filed by Heather Ammel, alleged that Sinema, who represented Arizona in the Senate for six years, engaged in “intentional and malicious interference” in her marriage to Matthew Ammel, an Army veteran who began working on Sinema’s security detail in the Senate in April 2022.
The lawsuit specifically accused Sinema and Matthew of engaging in “repeated episodes of sexual intercourse” while he was married to Heather.
Matthew officially retired from the Army in 2022, and was hired by Sinema’s head of security that year to work as one of her bodyguards while Sinema was still serving in the Senate (she retired from Congress in 2025).
After about a year, Sinema’s head of security resigned from the position after expressing concerns to Matthew that Sinema was having sexual relations with other bodyguards. While the head of security encouraged him to leave with her, Matthew stayed for financial stability, the suit stated.
In late 2023, a year after Sinema’s former head of security left her role, Matthew was asked by the senator to work as her security detail while attending the U2 concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Sinema told Matthew that the trip to Las Vegas was a “gift,” and Matthew decided to use the opportunity to introduce Sinema to Heather and “establish boundaries,” the suit stated.
The three hung out among Sinema’s friends and others who had traveled to Las Vegas for the trip, including Cindy McCain, whose suite they visited after the concert, where Sinema offered Heather a glass of champagne. She allegedly asked Heather that night, “Did you ever think you would be drinking Dom Perignon in Cindy McCain’s suite?” the lawsuit claimed.
Heather noticed her husband and Sinema were exchanging frequent messages on the app Signal in 2024. The lawsuit stated that the messages between the two “were of romantic and lascivious natures.”
Heather alleged that she discovered exchanges between Sinema and her husband including an image of Sinema in a towel, her offering to help Matthew with his mental health, and suggesting Matthew bring MDMA on a work trip so “she could guide him through a psychedelic experience.”
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
She also found a conversation in which Matthew and Sinema messaged about having sex with the lights on and in a missionary position, to which Sinema replied, “Boring!” the lawsuit alleged.
Sinema is accused of purchasing gifts for Matthew, including a Theragun to “bring to her apartment so she could ‘work on his back,’ ” according to the lawsuit, which also alleged that Matthew accompanied Sinema to a wedding in June 2024 as her “security and guest,” after which they flew to her home in Scottsdale, where they “stayed alone together.”
Eventually, Sinema gave Matthew a salary position and put him on her Senate staff as a defense and national security fellow the same month as the wedding.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Although Matthew didn’t admit to having an affair, the lawsuit alleged, he did tell Heather he planned to divorce her in the months after he was put on Sinema’s staff.
The lawsuit alleged that in October 2024, Sinema reportedly messaged Matthew, “I miss you. Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon.” Heather saw the message and replied, “Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family.”
After returning from a work trip in Saudi Arabia in November 2024, Matthew moved out of the home he shared with Heather and the two separated.
Heather is now seeking $25,000 in damages under North Carolina’s alienation of affection statute, under which a third party can be sued if they intentionally break up a marriage.
Neither Sinema nor her rep immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Read the full article here
