For Kyrsten Sinema, the former U.S. senator from Arizona, the legal troubles continue. Heather Ammel, ex–bodyguard’s ex-wife, sues him and his former boss for “alienation of affection.” The lawsuit further alleges that Sinema’s consensual sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel caused her marriage to end. Filed in Moore County, North Carolina, the federal court lawsuit is seeking, at a minimum, $75,000 in damages.
Matthew Ammel joined Sinema’s security detail shortly after retiring from the army in 2022. Ever since, he has been central to her remarkably effective security detail. These allegations further imply that he and Sinema formed an intimate or romantic relationship while he was employed by her. This meant traveling with her to places like Napa Valley, California, Las Vegas, and Saudi Arabia on trade missions. Sinema appointed Ammel as a national security fellow in her Senate office. He took the election thing very seriously and flourished in this role, continuing to run her campaign and double as her bodyguard.
Heather Ammel said she and Matthew had established a “good and loving marriage” before Sinema entered the picture. Until then, their relationship had blossomed. She thinks some love and affection may have been “genuine.” That bond was broken the moment Sinema decided to do what she ended up doing with Matthew, even after being told he was married. The lawsuit highlights that the two exchanged “romantic and lascivious” messages over the Signal messaging app, indicating a breach of trust that Heather Ammel believes contributed to her marriage’s collapse.
North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that allows people to sue for alienation of affection. Now, Heather Ammel just wants to make sure Sinema is held accountable for her role in this travesty. Sinema’s legal team filed a motion to have the case removed from state court to federal court. They acted to do this only after we filed the lawsuit late last year.