Former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema is involved in a court case over her relationship with a past member of her security team. Heather Ammel filed the lawsuit, claiming Sinema played a role in ending her 14-year marriage to Matthew Ammel. This lawsuit falls under North Carolina’s uncommon law that permits a deserted spouse to seek compensation from a third party for harming a marriage.
Sinema’s deposition and court filings, initially reported by The Arizona Republic, reveal that her professional bond with Matthew Ammel turned into a romantic and sexual one in 2024, while she was still in the Senate. These documents mention their interactions across several states, including California, Arizona, New York, and Washington, D.C.
In January, the Associated Press noted that Heather Ammel is pursuing at least $75,000 in damages. The lawsuit has attracted attention due to Sinema’s high-profile political career. She served Arizona in the Senate from 2019 to early 2025 and was a noted moderate.
Testimony Details
The deposition on July 31 and related court documents illustrate the relationship between Sinema and Matthew, as cited by Fox News. Their relationship began in May 2024, and the Ammels separated on November 1, 2024; the divorce was finalized by March 2026.
Sinema acknowledged that her relationship with Matthew evolved to become “romantic and intimate,” with frequent communication through calls, emails, and secured messaging while she was serving in Congress. “We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex,” said Sinema in a deposition transcript reported by The Arizona Republic.
Sinema was questioned about sending Matthew a photo of herself in a towel, which she explained was “about sports” because she is an athlete, and the picture showed her cupping marks. While Sinema did not deny the relationship, she asserted it occurred outside North Carolina, where the lawsuit was filed.
Future Proceedings
Next, the court will assess whether North Carolina has jurisdiction over Sinema’s case. Both parties have submitted further briefs and deposition excerpts on August 12. Sinema announced her intention to present live witnesses on the jurisdiction matter.
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon will review these materials to determine if the lawsuit should proceed in North Carolina or if Sinema’s motion to dismiss will be granted. If the case moves forward, it will proceed to further discovery and potentially a trial regarding Heather Ammel’s claims of alienation of affection.
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