Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is accused in a lawsuit of engaging in a romantic relationship with a member of her security detail that allegedly led to the collapse of his marriage. The suit, filed by Heather Ammel, seeks at least $75,000 in damages and claims Sinema knowingly pursued a married man.
[read more]
According to the complaint, Matthew and Heather Ammel shared what the lawsuit describes as a “good and loving marriage” before Sinema became involved. Heather Ammel alleges that Sinema initiated and maintained a relationship with her husband despite being aware of his marital status.
The filing states that Ammel was hired in 2022 by Sinema’s head of security after retiring from the U.S. Army. In that role, he traveled extensively with the Arizona lawmaker, including trips to Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and Saudi Arabia.
The lawsuit claims that in early 2024, Heather Ammel discovered “romantic and lascivious” messages exchanged between her husband and Sinema on the encrypted messaging app Signal. By the summer of that year, Ammel allegedly stopped wearing his wedding ring, and Sinema brought him into her Senate office as a national security fellow while he continued working as her bodyguard during her campaign.
The suit further alleges that Sinema paid for psychedelic treatment for Ammel, who reportedly suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse issues, and traumatic brain injuries connected to his military service in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
The case was originally filed late last year in Moore County, North Carolina, and gained broader attention after being moved to federal court. North Carolina is one of a small number of states that still recognize “alienation of affection” claims, which allow spouses to seek damages from a third party accused of destroying a marriage. Sinema and her attorney did not respond to requests for comment.[/read]