Former Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona acknowledged in a recent court filing that she carried on what she described as a “romantic and intimate” relationship with a married member of her security detail while serving in the United States Senate, an admission that comes as a lawsuit tied to the relationship continues to move through federal court.
The legal dispute stems from a complaint filed by Heather Ammel, who alleges that Sinema had an affair with her then-husband, Matthew Ammel, a bodyguard assigned to the former senator. According to the complaint, the relationship ultimately led to the collapse of the couple’s 14-year marriage. The case was originally filed in late 2025 before being transferred to a federal court in North Carolina in January.
In a sworn declaration submitted as part of the proceedings, Sinema did not dispute that the relationship occurred. Instead, her attorneys focused their argument on jurisdiction, contending that the North Carolina court lacks the authority to hear the case because the relationship took place entirely outside the state’s borders. The legal team maintains that none of the alleged conduct occurred in North Carolina, raising questions about whether the court can properly oversee the dispute.
Heather Ammel’s lawsuit accuses Sinema of deliberately interfering in the marriage and seeks $25,000 in damages. While the amount is modest compared with some civil claims, the case highlights the unusual nature of so-called alienation of affection lawsuits, which allow spouses to pursue damages from a third party accused of contributing to the breakdown of a marriage.
Court filings indicate the relationship between Sinema and Matthew Ammel began in May 2024 in California and later continued across several other states, including New York, Colorado, Arizona and Washington, D.C., according to reporting from the Associated Press. The filings also state that the pair communicated through phone calls, emails and the encrypted messaging app Signal.
At one point, Heather Ammel reportedly interrupted a conversation between the two on Signal and confronted Sinema directly, according to Fox News. The confrontation became one of several details cited in the broader complaint describing the alleged relationship.
The original lawsuit contains additional allegations about the nature of the relationship. According to the filing, Sinema flew Matthew Ammel on expensive solo trips and paid for psychedelic therapy sessions for him. The complaint also claims that she instructed him to bring MDMA on a work trip so she could facilitate a drug experience.
The lawsuit further notes that Sinema’s former top security official raised concerns in 2023 regarding her alleged sexual involvement with other members of her protection team.
Heather Ammel’s complaint also states that her husband struggled with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries connected to his service in the U.S. Army, details included in the filing as part of the broader context surrounding the marriage and its breakdown.
The case has drawn additional attention because North Carolina is one of the few states where alienation of affection claims remain legally viable. In some instances, these cases have produced multimillion-dollar verdicts when they proceed to trial, according to WRAL.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case underscores how personal conduct by public officials can spill into courtrooms long after their time in office ends, leaving judges to sort through private disputes that become public controversies.
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