Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema has recently acknowledged having an affair with Matthew Ammel, her former bodyguard, while responding to a lawsuit filed against her by Ammel’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel. The lawsuit, lodged in September 2025, accuses Sinema of intentionally disrupting the marriage between Matthew and Heather, which lasted for 14 years. Heather’s claim is based on North Carolina’s alienation of affection statute, which allows spouses to pursue legal action against a third party accused of interfering in a marriage.
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In a court motion submitted on Thursday, Sinema’s attorney, Steven B. Epstein, argued for the dismissal of Heather’s lawsuit, asserting that the basis for the case lies outside North Carolina’s jurisdiction. The motion specified that because the romantic involvement between Sinema and Ammel did not occur within the state, the legal claims cannot hold water there. Sinema served as a senator for Arizona for six years and later became an independent.
Heather alleges that Sinema engaged in “repeated episodes of sexual intercourse” with Ammel while he was still married, prompting her request for damages exceeding $75,000. She contends that Sinema “willfully and intentionally” pursued her husband, despite knowing he was married and had three children. The couple had been separated since 2024, shortly after Ammel embarked on his professional relationship with Sinema, which led to the eventual divorce filing by Heather in January.
In her sworn declaration, Sinema recounted how her relationship with Ammel turned romantic at the end of May 2024. The declaration detailed that the first instance of physical intimacy occurred on May 27, 2024, while Ammel was on a security detail in Sonoma, California. Sinema further described instances of their romantic engagements in various locations, including mid-June in New York City and multiple times in Washington, D.C. and Aspen, Colorado.
Sinema’s motion to dismiss contended that all phone calls and emails exchanged between the two during their affair took place when Ammel was outside North Carolina. It expressed that Heather’s claims regarding romantic communications initiated by Sinema while Ammel was in North Carolina were unfounded, stating that Ammel frequently travelled for work and that there was insufficient evidence to justify the lawsuit.
Thomas Van Camp, the attorney representing Heather, did not provide a comment when contacted for a response to Sinema’s motion. The allegations in Heather’s original lawsuit extend beyond the affair itself, including a claim that Sinema suggested Ammel, an Army veteran, take MDMA to ease his post-traumatic stress disorder during a work trip. Sinema responded to this allegation by stating she had no recollection of making such a suggestion.
Current Senate regulations differ from those in the House of Representatives regarding relationships between lawmakers and their staff. A House resolution enacted in 2018 prohibits members from engaging in sexual relationships with their staff, whereas no equivalent restriction currently exists within the Senate. This discrepancy raises questions about the appropriateness of such relationships in legislative environments.
The affair and subsequent legal battle have attracted considerable media attention, reflecting the complexities of personal relationships in political spheres. Sinema’s public persona, known for her independent stance and moderate views, could face scrutiny as these proceedings unfold. The outcome of the lawsuit could set a precedent regarding the limits of personal accountability and interference in marriages within the realm of political figures.
As this case progresses, both parties may find themselves navigating not only the legal implications of their circumstances but also the public perception that comes with high-profile relationships and career consequences. The continued developments in this lawsuit will likely be closely followed, as it involves not only personal matters but also broader discussions around ethics and conduct in politics.