Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is back in the spotlight as a lawsuit stemming from her relationship with a former member of her security detail moves toward a court hearing next week.
Sinema, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent while serving in the Senate, is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Heather Ammel, the former wife of Matthew Ammel, a one-time bodyguard who had a romantic relationship with the former Arizona lawmaker.
Heather Ammel sued Sinema under North Carolina’s “alienation of affection” law, alleging that the relationship contributed to the end of her 14-year marriage.
Sinema has acknowledged that she and Matthew Ammel were involved in a romantic and sexual relationship while he was still married.
Court records and deposition testimony provide a detailed timeline of the relationship. During a July 31 deposition in a Raleigh law office, Sinema said the relationship began around Memorial Day in 2024.
“We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex,” Sinema testified.
According to her testimony, she and Ammel were staying at the property with friends Penny and Grant Croissant, as well as another member of her security team.
The relationship continued the following month when Sinema traveled to New York City to attend the wedding of CNN anchor Jessica Dean.
Although the pair stayed in separate hotel rooms, Sinema said they were intimate in her room during the trip.
Deposition records indicate that the relationship continued in mid-July at Sinema’s Washington apartment after the two returned from the West Coast on a red-eye flight.
Sinema also testified that she and Ammel traveled to Aspen, Colorado, in mid-August for what she described as a fundraising trip, during which they again became intimate.
She said she could not recall another alleged encounter in Washington in late September, although Ammel later confirmed the incident during his own deposition.
Ex-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema details repeated sex with bodyguard in ‘homewrecker’ case where ex-wife wants $75K https://t.co/1YiM27IFQd pic.twitter.com/2QpJLAbEUx
— New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2026
According to court filings, the relationship continued into October 2024, when the two were intimate again at Sinema’s home in Phoenix.
During her deposition, Sinema acknowledged that she knew Ammel was married and had three children while their relationship was ongoing.
Attorneys also questioned her about text messages and photographs exchanged during the relationship. One line of questioning focused on a photograph Sinema sent while wrapped in a towel.
“I’m an endurance athlete. So a photograph of me with cupping marks is about sports,” Sinema testified.
She later said she did not specifically remember sending that particular image.
Another message introduced during the deposition read: “Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon. I miss you.”
“You understand, Ms. Sinema, don’t you, that a wife reading this might get concerned about who is sending her husband that kind of message referring to putting his — her hand on his heart? Can you see that?” the lawyer asked.
“Yes,” Sinema said.
Heather Ammel also testified in the case, saying she discovered the relationship after her husband returned home “severely intoxicated” while the couple was staying at her parents’ house.
During her deposition, Heather Ammel read a message she said she found on her husband’s phone that had been sent by Sinema.
“I hope your day was okay. Thinking of you. I am with you. I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me,” the message said.
Sinema’s attorneys have argued that the case should be dismissed because the alleged relationship did not occur in North Carolina, where the lawsuit was filed.
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19. Heather Ammel is seeking at least $75,000 in damages.
Sinema left the Senate in January 2025 after completing one term representing Arizona.
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